Russia’s airline passenger traffic down 37 per cent in February, on the climb

(Gelendzhik airport)

Russian airlines served collectively 5.1 million passengers in February 2021, which is 37 per cent below the same month of the pre-crisis year, according to the preliminary data published by the country’s aviation authority Rosaviatsiya. Although still significantly short of the ‘normal’ level, a slight positive dynamic is becoming a trend – whilst in December 2020 the decline was 43 per cent, it climbed to 38 per cent in January and 37 per cent in February. The figures also pose an upbeat difference to the persistently depressed air travel market in Europe.

Russian airlines’ RPKs in February were down 51 per cent year-on-year (to 10.22 billion), which, again, is slightly better than the 53 per cent decline in January.

The country’s TOP-5 ranking remains the same with three subsidiaries of Aeroflot group and two privately-owned airlines.

Privately-run S7 Airlines has once again become the market leader, for 11th consecutive month. In February it carried 1.06 million passengers, down 15 per cent year-on-year.

Flag carrier Aeroflot’s traffic was down 60 per cent to 993,000 passengers, as international travel remains largely restricted and due to implementation of groups’ strategy of transferring some of Aeroflot’s aircraft and flights to its subsidiaries Rossiya and Pobeda.

The country’s only major airline, which managed to demonstrate growth, was LLC Pobeda Airlines. It served 845,000 passengers, three per cent up on February 2020.

Privately-owned Ural Airlines carried 403,000 passengers (down 33 per cent), Rossiya Airlines closes the TOP-5 running with 400,000 passengers (down 21 per cent).

1. S7 Airlines                 1.06 mln pax –15%
2. Aeroflot                     0,99 mln pax –60%
3. Pobeda                       0,84 mln pax   +3%
4. Ural Airlines            0,40 mln pax –33%
5. Rossiya                      0,40 mln pax –21%