users have voted us ‘The Best Airline in
Europe’. This recognition is in stark contrast
with both old stereotypes still dogging
[the] Aeroflot image and negative attitudes
sometimes promoted in the West.”
Fleet replacement plays a large part in
shedding this old image. Aeroflot stopped
flying the Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-154 in 2010
and for a while had a fully Western-built fleet.
This changed with the introduction of the
modern Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jet in
2011, which does not carry such negative
connotations.
A spokesperson for the carrier said:
“Aeroflot operates one of the youngest
fleets among major carriers globally with an
average fleet age [of] about 4.2 years. The
almost 200-strong fleet comprises Boeing
777, Boeing 737, Airbus A330, Airbus A320-
family [and] Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft.”
While the share of domestic-made aircraft
is set to grow with the deliveries of further
Superjets and new Irkut MC-21s, competitors
to Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 jets, Aeroflot
intends to keep the fleet age low. The group
fully conforms to European and American
safety standards. While the airline cancelled
its order for 22 Boeing 787 Dreamliners in
2015, officially for fleet conformity rather than
political reasons, the introduction into service
of 28 Airbus A350-900s and an additional six
Boeing 777-300ERs is scheduled by 2025.Successful multi-brand
strategy
While Aeroflot Russian Airlines is the Russian
national carrier, the group consists of four
brands, the others being: Rossiya, a hybrid,
mid-market carrier operating scheduled and
charter services primarily in the northwestern
part of the country; Aurora, a carrier based in
the Far East; and Pobeda, a low-cost brand.
This diversification has been another
growth factor in recent years. Pobeda in
particular has been expanding rapidly. In
2016, it carried 4.3 million passengers: still a
mere 9.9% of the overall group’s traffic, but
38.7% more than in 2015. Despite having a
moderately sized fleet of only 12 Boeing 737-
800s, the airline has become a very efficient
organisation and utilises the aircraft for 14–15
hours per day.
Pobeda benefits from a political drive to
promote domestic travel. While the Russianeconomy remains fragile and citizens’
purchasing power is low, the government
actively supports domestic travel, including
providing financial incentives. This, combined
with Pobeda’s low prices, has led to a surge
in traffic within Russia. Aeroflot says around
12% of Pobeda’s passengers are flying for
the first time in their lives.
Rossiya is also set to benefit from the
economic recovery in Russia, with more
people travelling abroad for leisure. In turn,
Aeroflot itself sees its main strength as being
able to build a stronger hub. In 2017, the
airline further increased its seat capacity by
more than 15%, which ensures another year
of double-digit growth.
While rising fuel prices and a slowly but
steadily appreciating ruble will increase
financial pressure on Aeroflot, the Russian
group has proved in the last few years it has
restructured itself into a modern, multi-brand
airline group with a high level of comfort, a
good record of safety and an ever bigger
competitive edge on Europe-Asia routes.
Unless the Russian economy faces a sudden
crisis. Aeroflot is poised to stay among
the top European carriers.AEROFLOT COMMERCIAL