Aeroflot facts for kids
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| Founded | 3 February 1923 |
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| Commenced operations | 15 July 1923 |
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| Frequent-flyer program | Aeroflot Bonus |
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| Fleet size | 171, excluding subsidiaries |
| Destinations | 104 (airline group) |
| Headquarters | Moscow, Russia |
| Key people | Sergei Alexandrovsky (Chairman, CEO) |
| Revenue |  ₽612 billion (2023) |
| Operating income | ₽182 million (2023) |
| Net income | -₽14 million (2023) |
| Total assets |  ₽957 billion (2022) |
| Total equity | -₽99 billion (2022) |
| Employees | 30,328 (Aeroflot Group) |
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Aeroflot is the main airline of Russia. It is also the largest airline in the country. Aeroflot is headquartered in Moscow, and its main base is Sheremetyevo International Airport. The Russian government owns most of the company.
Aeroflot started in 1923, making it one of the oldest airlines still flying today. During the time of the Soviet Union, Aeroflot was one of the biggest airlines in the world. After the Soviet Union ended in 1991, Aeroflot was split into many smaller airlines. It then became a public company.
Today, Aeroflot carries millions of passengers each year. It also owns other airlines like Rossiya Airlines and Pobeda, which is a low-cost airline.
Contents
Aeroflot: A Journey Through Time
How Aeroflot Started
On January 17, 1921, a document about air travel was published in Russia. This document, signed by Vladimir Lenin, set rules for flying over Russia. It was important because it was the first time Russia said it controlled its own airspace.
Soon after, a group was formed to plan civil aviation. This led to the creation of Glavvozdukhflot. It started mail and passenger flights on May 1, 1921. They used large Sikorsky Ilya Muromets planes.
In 1921, a joint company called Deruluft was also set up with Germany. It began flying mail between Königsberg and Moscow in 1922.
The Birth of Aeroflot
On February 3, 1923, the Soviet government approved plans to expand air travel. This date is officially known as the start of civil aviation in the Soviet Union. On March 25, 1932, the name "Aeroflot" was officially chosen for all Soviet civil air travel.
The government wanted air travel to become a main way of moving around the Soviet Union. They also wanted to build more planes in the country. By 1930, half of the planes used were from other countries.
Dobrolyot: Early Flights
Dobrolyot was formed in March 1923. An artist named Alexander Rodchenko designed posters to encourage people to buy shares in Dobrolyot. He also created the famous "Winged Hammer and Sickle" logo, which Aeroflot still uses today.
Regular flights by Dobrolyot began on July 15, 1923, from Moscow to Nizhniy Novgorod. Other airlines were also started around this time. By 1925, Dobrolyot flew 2,000 flights, carrying 14,000 passengers. In 1928, Dobrolyot merged with other airlines.
Aeroflot During World War II
By 1937, Aeroflot began flying international routes, like from Moscow to Stockholm. Flights between Moscow and Berlin also started in 1940. These flights continued until World War II began in 1941.
On June 22, 1941, when Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Aeroflot's planes and crews were used for the war effort. They flew supplies to cities under attack, like Leningrad and Kyiv.
During the Battle of Stalingrad, Aeroflot flew many missions. They carried tons of supplies and thousands of troops. After the war, captured German planes were also used by Aeroflot. By the end of the war, Aeroflot had flown over 1.5 million special missions.
Aeroflot During the Cold War
After World War II, the Soviet government rebuilt airports and strengthened Aeroflot. By 1945, Aeroflot carried over 500,000 passengers. They used many Lisunov Li-2 planes.
New planes like the Ilyushin Il-12 and Antonov An-2 were added in the late 1940s. The An-2 became very important for local flights across the Soviet Union.
In 1956, Aeroflot made history by introducing the Tupolev Tu-104 jet aircraft. This made Aeroflot the first airline in the world to have regular jet service. This gave Aeroflot an advantage over Western airlines, which were still using propeller planes.
By 1961, Aeroflot carried 21.8 million passengers. They added more modern planes like the Tupolev Tu-114, the world's largest airliner at the time. The Tupolev Tu-124 and Antonov An-24 also joined the fleet.
In 1967, the Ilyushin Il-62 and Tupolev Tu-134 were introduced. In 1968, the Yakovlev Yak-40 began flying shorter routes. That same year, Aeroflot started flights between Moscow and New York.
By 1970, Aeroflot flew to over 3,500 places in the Soviet Union. It carried about 400,000 passengers every day during summer. In 1976, Aeroflot carried its 100 millionth passenger. Its flights reached five continents.
Aeroflot flights to the United States were stopped from 1983 to 1990. This happened after a Soviet plane shot down a Korean Air Lines flight. Flights started again in 1990.
Other Important Jobs
Aeroflot did more than just carry passengers. It was the only company handling all civil aviation in the Soviet Union. This included:
- Air ambulances (flying sick people)
- Helping with farming from the air
- Lifting heavy things for the Soviet space program
- Supporting oil platforms
- Looking for natural resources
- Helping with building projects
- Transporting military troops and supplies
- Studying the atmosphere
- Patrolling remote areas
Aeroflot used many helicopters and cargo planes for these jobs. They even had special planes for government leaders. They also helped with ice patrol in the Arctic Ocean and guided ships through frozen seas.
Aeroflot After the Soviet Union
After the Dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Aeroflot was divided. Many smaller airlines were created from its regional branches. Aeroflot itself became controlled by Russia and was renamed Aeroflot—Russian International Airlines. It focused on international flights from Moscow.
In 1994, Aeroflot became a joint-stock company. The government sold some of its shares to Aeroflot employees. By 2000, the company changed its name to Aeroflot—Russian Airlines to show it was also focusing on flights within Russia. The number of planes Aeroflot owned became much smaller after 1991.
In the early 2000s, Aeroflot updated its look. They kept the famous "hammer and sickle" logo because it was so well-known. They also got new plane designs and uniforms. Most of their old Soviet planes were replaced with newer planes from companies like Airbus and Boeing. This was mainly to save fuel.
In April 2006, Aeroflot joined SkyTeam, a big airline alliance. This made it the first airline from the former Soviet Union to join such a group.
Growth and Changes
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In 2011, several other airlines merged into Aeroflot. In 2013, Aeroflot was named the best airline in Eastern Europe at an international awards show.
In October 2013, Aeroflot started a new low-cost airline called Dobrolet. However, it stopped flying in August 2014 due to international rules. Aeroflot then launched a new low-cost airline called Pobeda to replace it.
In March 2014, Aeroflot changed its flight routes to avoid flying over Ukraine. In 2015, Aeroflot tried to buy another airline called Transaero, but the plan didn't work out. Instead, Aeroflot took over some of Transaero's planes, including the Boeing 747 and Boeing 777.
Recent Challenges
In February and March 2022, many countries banned Russian airlines from their airspace. This happened because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Many Aeroflot flights were cancelled. Some countries also stopped companies from servicing Aeroflot's planes.
In response, Aeroflot started using Russian-made systems for its flights. It also began finding aircraft parts from countries that did not have bans on Russia. Aeroflot also ordered more Russian-made jets like the Yakovlev MC-21. In 2023, Aeroflot bought 17 planes and five spare engines that were stuck in Russia.
Where Aeroflot Flies
In September 2018, Aeroflot flew to 146 places in 52 countries. In 2022, the number of places it flies to was greatly reduced. This was due to many countries banning Russian aircraft.
Today, Aeroflot flies to countries like China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Maldives, Thailand, and Turkey.
Airline Partnerships
Aeroflot was a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance from 2006. This alliance helps airlines work together for things like shared flights and loyalty programs. However, Aeroflot's membership was stopped on April 27, 2022.
Aeroflot also has agreements with its own airlines, Aurora, Pobeda, and Rossiya Airlines. These agreements allow them to share flights.
Frequent Flyer Program
Aeroflot has a program for frequent flyers called Aeroflot Bonus. This program lets passengers earn points when they fly. These points can be used for free flights or other benefits. The program has different levels, each with its own special perks.
Aeroflot's Planes
The Aeroflot fleet includes 171 airplanes. These are mostly Airbus and Boeing planes. The company plans to make the Yakovlev MC-21 its main plane in the future. Deliveries of these new Russian-made planes are expected to start in 2025 or 2026.
Safety Record
Aeroflot has had many incidents in its long history, especially during the Soviet era. However, since 1996, only two incidents have resulted in deaths. The airline has worked to improve its safety.
Images for kids
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An Aeroflot Mi-10 heavy lift helicopter seen at Groningen Airport in the early 1970s.
See also
In Spanish: Aeroflot para niños
