Aeroflot

Aeroflot, officially PJSC Aeroflot – Russian Airlines, is Russia's flag carrier and its largest airline. Headquartered in Moscow's Central Administrative Okrug, the airline operates its main hub at Sheremetyevo International Airport. The Russian government, through the Federal Agency for State Property Management, holds a 73.77% stake, with the remaining shares publicly traded. During the Soviet era, Aeroflot was one of the world's biggest airlines, but after the USSR dissolved in 1992, it fragmented into roughly 400 regional carriers, nicknamed "Babyflots," before being reorganized as an open joint-stock company. Today, Aeroflot commands a market share of about 42.3% in Russia and, including its subsidiaries, carried 55.3 million passengers in 2024. The group also includes Rossiya Airlines and the low-cost carrier Pobeda. In 2022, the airline was banned from flying into the European Union. Its fleet, excluding subsidiaries, consists of 171 aircraft: 112 Airbuses and 59 Boeings. The company plans to make the Yakovlev MC-21 its flagship, with deliveries expected to start in 2026.

Founded on February 3, 1923, Aeroflot traces its lineage to the Soviet state airline Dobroflot, established in 1928. Over the decades, it grew into a symbol of Soviet aviation, connecting the vast expanse of the USSR. The post-Soviet era brought a dramatic restructuring, turning the monolithic carrier into a modern commercial enterprise. Despite geopolitical turbulence, Aeroflot remains a dominant force in Russian skies, with a network spanning 149 destinations in 53 countries, though its international reach has shrunk considerably since 2022.

Under the leadership of CEO Sergei Alexandrovsky, Aeroflot has focused on modernizing its fleet and maintaining operational resilience. In April 2026, Alexandrovsky met with President Vladimir Putin to discuss performance, highlighting a 26.9% increase in average salaries in 2025. The company also sponsors the Aeroflot Open chess tournament, a prestigious event that attracts top grandmasters, with Ian Nepomniachtchi winning the 2026 edition. [edit]