S7 Group sees its traffic grow 17% in February

S7's international traffic outpaced domestic in February this year (Photo by S7 Group)

Sibir and Globus, the two Russian private airlines that make up the S7 Group (both operate under S7 Airlines brand name) carried cumulatively 902,972 passengers in February this year. This was by 17.7% more compared to the same month of 2016, the group reported. In January the S7 total traffic increased 15.2% year-on-year.

The Russian Air Transport Agency reported earlier that Sibir’s traffic alone grew 2.7% to 610,900 passengers in February. So Globus’ traffic must have increased by 69.9% and exceeded 292,000 passengers. The difference in operational results between the two carriers may be explained by the flexible fleet management policy inside the S7 Group.

In general, the main driver behind the growth is recovery of the Russian air transport industry following the strengthening of the national currency.

The new trend has manifested itself throughout the industry – the international traffic growth rate outpaces the domestic segment. In line with the trend, the group’s international traffic grew 22.6% to 226,400 passengers. Inside Russia the two sister airlines carried 676,600 passengers, up 16.2%.

S7 Group operates narrow-body Airbus A319/320/321s and Boeing 737-800s, as well as wide-body Boeing 767-300ERs. In February leasing term expired for one of the group’s Airbus A320s, and the airline returned it to lessor (the aircraft is tail number VQ-BCI). Within the next few months the group is expecting delivery of new Airbus A320neo’s and used Embraer Е170LRs. Both are new types for the Russian airlines group.