note

Aeroflot is national airline of Russia and during the Soviet era was world's largest airline. Aeroflot was established when Deutsch-Russische Luftverkehrs A.G. (Deruluft), founded 1921, and Dobrolyet, founded in February 1923, were combined in July 1932. Deruluft operated international routes and Dobrolyet domestic commencing operations in July 1923 between Mocow and Nizhny Novgorod. Like most communist national airlines, Aeroflot performed all non-military aviation duties in the country. Because of this, Aeroflot employed during the Soviet era over 400,000 people and used almost 4,000 aircraft! In September 1956, Aeroflot operated world's 2nd jet airliner service using Tupolev Tu-104 aircraft. In December 1975 Aeroflot also operated first super-sonic airline service using Tupolev Tu-144 between Moscow and Almaty. Aeroflot main business was domestic service, but also operated low frequency service to all continents with exception of Australia. After Sovier Air Force shut down Korean 747 over Sakhalin, USA banned Aeroflot from operating into USA. This ban lasted until 1990. In 1992, after collapse of Soviet Union, Aeroflot was reorganized into hundreds of separate airlines. Baltic states formed their national airlines from local divisions of Aeroflot so did CIS countries. Aeroflot changed into Aeroflot Russian International Airline as it abandoned domestic service. In 1994 airline was partially privatized, but the government retained controlling interest. Aerflot started to lease western airliners, namely Boeing 767s, Airbus A310s, cargo Douglas DC-10s and Boeing 777s. This lasted until 2004 when Aerflot returned to domestic market. Massive fleet renewal started in 2003. In October 2003 Aeroflot received its first brand new Airbus A320 and introduced new attractive livery. It has preserved its logo of winged hammer and sickle from its Soviet era. First long-range Airbus A330 joined the fleet in December 2008. Aeroflot is member of SkyTeam airline alliance since April 2006. Aerflot regain some of its glory by then and it employs over 14,000 people and handles over 7 million passengers annually. In 2009 Aeroflot served New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Havana in North America, Luanda and Cairo in Africa, Delhi, Colombo, Male, Bangkok, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Peking, Hanoi and Ulanbaatar in Asia, Elat, Beirut, Damascus, Tehran and Dubai in Middle East as well as comprehensive domestic network, European capitals and many seconadary gateways in Germany and Czech Republic. In 2010, Aeroflot regained its status as largest domestic operator in Russia by handling over 4 million passengers on domestic routes, and expedited retirement of Russian built aircraft in favour of new Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

founded - demised (age)

February 23 1923 - present  (102years)

headquarters

, Moscow

web

www.aeroflot.ru

base airports

UUEE Sheremetyevo - Alexander S. Pushkin International Moscow

related operators

Aeroflot-Don	subsidiary
Aeroflot-Nord	subsidiary
Polar Aeroflot	subsidiary
SATAIR	subsidiary
Vladivostok Air	subsidiary
Polar Aeroflot	subsidiary
Pobeda	subsidiary