Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsiya has release data showing that airlines collectively carried 6.24 million passengers, down 46 per cent on the pre-COVID year 2019. Thanks to its first quarter results, which wasn’t badly affected by the virus, national carrier Aeroflot managed to retain its leading position in 2020. However Aeroflot was outperformed by S7 Airlines, which led the market for nine months out of 12. Aeroflot’s low-cost division Pobeda outperformed its sister carrier Rossiya Airlines and climbed to third position in the ranking, while Nordwind’s mixed business model proved to be more sustainable than a that of leisure carrier Azur Air. The market share of Russia’s top five airlines continues to increase: Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, Pobeda, Rossiya and Ural Airlines were jointly accountable for 68.4 per cent of the total passenger traffic in 2020 compared to 64.6 per cent in 2019. The airline, which suffered the least traffic decline – by 2.7 per cent — was state backed Azimuth Airlines, IFly, the charter operator specializing on serving tourist flows between Russia and China was the hardest hit. Its traffic losses have not been officially revealed, but are estimated at between 67 and 79 per cent.
Passenger traffic reductions year on year according to the data are: Nordwind 46.9 per cent down, Red Wings 49.9 per cent down, Rossiya 50.6 per cent down, Aurora 52 per cent down, Royal Flight 59.4 per cent down, Yamal 60 per cent down, Aeroflot 60.9 per cent down, Ikar 64.8 per cent down and Azur Air 66.7 per cent down. LCC Pobeda, 11.7 per cent down year-on-year, Nordavia 19.5 per cent down, Alrosa 25 per cent down, Yakutiya Airlines 30 per cent down, S7 Airlines 37.2 per cent down, NordStar 31.7 per cent down, IrAero 34.9 per cent down and Utair 38.7 per cent down.