Russian airlines plan to increase passenger numbers to over 100 million in 2023, despite sanctions imposed by the West and a closed European airspace. The plan includes state-owned operators under Aeroflot Group and privately carriers like S7 Airlines. With these numbers, there will be an increase in passenger numbers by almost six million from 95 million in 2022.
Vitaly Savelyev, Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation said at a meeting with Vladimir Putin and other members of the government, reports TASS.
Savelyev also stressed that the current combined Russian commercial fleet of 1,164 aircraft would be enough to meet the predicted increase in demand over the coming 12 months.
"In 2023, we plan to carry more than 101 million passengers; the relevant plans have been communicated to the airlines," Savelyev said.
Going ahead, Savelyev further added that airlines would complete their summer 2023 schedules by the end of February 2023. These would include maintaining the current route network and increasing the number of flights, as well as adding new regional services.
Aeroflot will begin flying domestic routes from Samara, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Perm, and Ufa to Mineralnye Vody.
Following the partial reopening of China's borders, Aeroflot is also increasing its flights to Guangzhou up to three times a week from February 15, the airline said in a statement on Tuesday.