12 Fascinating Facts About Aeroflot, Russia’s Flagship Airline

Aeroflot, the iconic Russian airline, has a remarkable 100-year history (in 2023). As Russia’s flagship carrier, Aeroflot played a key role in the country’s aviation development.

Today, Aeroflot continues to connect major cities across Russia and fly to over 150 destinations globally. Though no longer the world’s largest airline, it remains a powerful symbol of Russian aviation.

Here are 12 fascinating facts about the airline known as the “Wings of Russia”:

1. Aeroflot Was Founded in 1923 as Dobrolet

The earliest origins of Aeroflot date back to 1923 when Dobrolet Airlines was formed. Dobrolet merged with Ukrvozdukhput in 1928 to create the Soviet state airline Dobroflot.

In 1932, Dobroflot was reorganized and renamed Aeroflot Soviet Airlines. The name is Aeroflot comes from “aero” meaning air and “flot” for fleet.

So while Aeroflot as we know it today was officially born in 1932, its lineage traces back to 1923.

2. Aeroflot Rapidly Expanded Across the Soviet Union

In the decades after its founding, Aeroflot underwent a massive expansion of both its aircraft fleet and route network.

By the 1950s, the airline connected major cities from Leningrad (St. Petersburg) in the west to Vladivostok in the far east.] It flew to over 3,600 cities and towns across the Soviet Union by the late 1980s.

Aeroflot’s growth mirrored the rapid aviation development occurring throughout the communist state.

3. Aeroflot Operated the World’s First Jet Airliner Service

Aeroflot has many aviation firsts to its name, including operating the first-ever jet airliner service.

In 1956, the airline introduced the Soviet-built Tupolev Tu-104 jet on the Moscow-Omsk route. This ushered in the jet age in Russia.

The Tu-104 could fly at up to 550 mph, twice as fast as piston-engine airliners of the era. Aeroflot began procuring more Tu-104s to replace its propeller-driven aircraft.

4. Aeroflot Dominated Soviet Civil Aviation

As the USSR’s flag carrier, Aeroflot was responsible for essentially all civil aviation services throughout the massive communist state.

In addition to regular passenger and cargo flights, Aeroflot also conducted aerial surveying, air ambulance services, crop spraying, and more unique operations.

The airline used exclusively Soviet-built aircraft like the Ilyushin Il-62 and Tupolev Tu-154 for many years. Western planes were prohibited.

Aeroflot’s dominance exemplified the centralized communist system.

5. By the 1980s, Aeroflot Was the Largest Airline in the World

Given its sprawling route network across the Soviet Union’s 11 time zones, Aeroflot became the biggest airline in the world by the 1980s.

The airline boasted a fleet of nearly 1,300 aircraft by 1990. It carried over 138 million passengers annually and served 400,000 flights per year.

To put this in perspective, these figures are similar to the combined totals of leading U.S. airlines Delta, United, and American today.

6. Aeroflot Introduced the Soviet Supersonic Jet – the Tupolev Tu-144

In addition to operating the first jetliner, Aeroflot also helped develop and launch the world’s first supersonic passenger jet.

The Tupolev Tu-144 made its maiden flight in 1968. It could cruise at over 1,300 mph, twice as fast as standard jets.

Aeroflot began operating the Tu-144 on select Moscow routes in 1975. However, the supersonic jet was retired just a few years later due to technical issues.

7. The Airline Was Privatized and Restructured in the 1990s

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of an era for Aeroflot. The airline was broken up and privatized during Russia’s transition to a market economy.

Aeroflot shifted from a state-controlled flag carrier to a modern joint stock company focused on profitability. It began acquiring Western-made Airbus and Boeing jets.

Dozens of regional spin-off airlines were created from the former Aeroflot branches across Russia.

8. Aeroflot Joined the SkyTeam Alliance in 2006

After reinventing itself in the post-Soviet period, Aeroflot regained global stature by joining the SkyTeam airline alliance in April 2006.

SkyTeam includes other major carriers like Delta, Air France-KLM, and China Airlines. Joining SkyTeam bolstered Aeroflot’s reputation.

As of 2023, Aeroflot remains the only Russian airline member of any major global alliance.

9. The Russian Government Holds a Majority Stake in Aeroflot

While no longer fully state-owned, the Russian government continues to be the controlling shareholder in Aeroflot today.

As of late 2022, the Russian Federation held a 73.77% stake in the airline. The government uses its position to exert control and influence industry developments.

The Kremlin has actively increased its ownership in recent years to gain more sway over Aeroflot.

10. Aeroflot Operates Three Airline Brands Spanning All Market Segments

Aeroflot has developed a multi-brand strategy to cover all airline market segments in Russia.

The group includes:

Between these three carriers, Aeroflot Group carried 40.7 million passengers in 2022 and held a 37.8% market share.

11. The Airline Has Over 300 Aircraft with an Ultra-Young Fleet Age

As of late 2022, the Aeroflot Group operated a fleet of 346 aircraft with an average age of just 7.9 years.

The fleet is comprised primarily of Airbus and Boeing jets, including popular models like the A320, A330, B737 and B777.

Having such a young fleet illustrates the massive investments Aeroflot has made in renewing its aircraft in recent decades.

12. Aeroflot Has Invested Heavily in Improving Service and Safety

In the 1990s and 2000s, Aeroflot worked to overhaul its reputation and improve service standards.

The airline invested in training for flight crews and customer service agents. It updated onboard amenities and revamped its flight catering.

Safety enhancements like modernized aircraft maintenance and pilot training also helped Aeroflot achieve Western standards.

Key Takeaways:

• Aeroflot has a storied 95-year history as Russia’s flag carrier airline.
• It operated the first-ever jetliner flight and helped develop the first supersonic passenger jet.
• By the 1980s, Aeroflot had grown into the largest airline globally.
• After being privatized in the 1990s, Aeroflot updated its brand, fleet, and service to global standards.
• The airline remains majority state-owned by the Russian government today.
• Aeroflot operates a multi-brand strategy with subsidiaries Rossiya Airlines and Pobeda Airlines.
• The airline has invested heavily in service, safety, and fleet renewal in recent decades.

So while no longer the world’s biggest carrier, Aeroflot continues to exemplify Russian aviation and connect global travelers to destinations across Russia. Its evolution mirrors the development of modern Russian aviation.