Difference between revisions 159052748 and 160647858 on enwiki

{{Infobox Airline
| airline        = Aeroflot - Russian Airlines<br><small>Аэрофлот - Российские авиалинии
| logo           = Aeroflot logo.png
| logo_size      = 250px
| fleet_size     = 86 (124 orders)
| destinations   = 93
| IATA           = SU<ref name="ATM">Federal State Unitary Enterprise "State Air Traffic Management Corporation", ''Airline Reference'', Vol. 1, Russian Federation, 20 February 2007, p. 125</ref>
| ICAO           = AFL<ref name="ATM"/>
| callsign       = AEROFLOT<ref name="ATM"/>
| parent         = [[Rosimushchestvo]] (51.17%)
| company_slogan = Sincerely Yours. Aeroflot ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Искренне ваш, Аэрофлот)
| founded        = 19323<ref>[http://www.aeroflot.ru/eng/company.asp?ob_no=739] Aeroflot official website</ref>
| headquarters   = [[Moscow]], [[Russia]]
| key_people     = Valery Mikhailovich Okulov ([[Director General|General 
Director]]), [[Viktor Ivanov|Viktor Petrovich Ivanov]] ([[Board of directors|Chairman of the Board of Directors]]), Aleksandr Yuryevich Zurabov (First Deputy General Director)<ref name="ATM"/>
| hubs           = [[Sheremetyevo International Airport]]<ref name="ATM"/>
| secondary_hubs = 
| focus_cities   = 
| frequent_flyer = [[#Aeroflot Bonus|Aeroflot Bonus]]
| lounge         = 
| alliance       = [[SkyTeam]]
| subsidiaries   = [[Aeroflot-Don]]<br>[[Aeroflot-Nord]]<br>[[Aeroflot-Plus]]<BR>[[Aeroflot-Cargo]]
| website        = http://www.aeroflot.ru
}}

'''JSC "Aeroflot - Russian Airlines"''' ({{lang-ru|ОАО «Аэрофлот - Российские авиалинии»}})
({{MICEX|AFLT}} {{RTS|AFLT}}), or '''Aeroflot''' ({{lang-ru|Аэрофлот}}) as the airline is more commonly known, is the Russian [[flag carrier]] and the largest airline in [[Russia]]. It is one of the oldest airlines in the world, tracing its history back to 1923. Based at Moscow [[Sheremetyevo International Airport]] it operates domestic and international passenger services to 93 cities in 47 countries.

During the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] era, Aeroflot was the Soviet national airline and the largest airline in the world.<ref>{{cite web | last = Smith | first = Patrick | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Ask the pilot| work = | publisher = [[Salon.com]]| date = [[2004-03-09]]| url = http://dir.salon.com/story/tech/col/smith/2004/09/03/askthepilot101/index2.html| format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-08-21}}</ref> Since the [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|dissolution of the USSR]], Aeroflot has been transformed from a State-owned [[bureaucracy]] into a smaller semi-privatised airline which ranks amongst the most profitable in the world.

In recent years Aeroflot has embarked on a fleet modernisation program, extensive route restructuring, and an image overhaul, in order to bring the airline up to world standards. These efforts culminated in the entry of the airline into [[SkyTeam]] on 14 April 2006.<ref>[ name="SkyTeam">{{cite web
|url =http://www.skyteam.com/EN/aboutSkyteam/pressCenter/pr140406.jsp |title =Aeroflot joins the SkyTeam alliance] |accessdate =2007-08-31 |author =SkyTeam |authorlink =SkyTeam |date =2006-04-14 |language =English}}</ref>

==History==
In 1921, shortly after the end of the [[Russian Civil War]], the new government established the [[Chief Administration of the Civil Air Fleet]] to oversee new air transport projects. One of its first acts was to help found ''Deutsch-Russische Luftverkehrs'' ([[Deruluft]]), a joint German-Russian venture to provide air transport from [[Russia]] to the West. Domestic air service began around the same time, when the [[Dobrolyot]] society was established on [[9 February]] [[1923]]. It started operations on [[15 July]] 1923 between Moscow and [[Nizhni Novgorod]].  On [[25 February]] [[1932]] all civil aviation activities were consolidated under the name of ''Grazhdanskiy Vozdushnyy Flot'' (Civil Air Fleet), known simply as Aeroflot. International flights started in 1937; before that date they had been carried out by Deruluft. 

By the end of the 1930s Aeroflot had become the world's largest airline, employing more than 400,000 people and operating around 4,000 aircraft.{{Fact|date=May 2007}} It became the first airline in the world to operate sustained regular jet services on [[15 September]] [[1956]] with the [[Tupolev Tu-104]]<ref name="FI"/>{{cite news |title= Directory: World Airlines |work= [[Flight International]] |page= 47 |date= 2007-04-03 |accessdate=2007-05-27}}</ref>.
⏎
⏎
[[Image:Aeroflot ANT-20bis.jpg|thumb|Tupolev ANT-20bis used for cargo flights from Moscow to [[Mineralnyie Vody]] during [[World War II]]]]
During the Soviet era Aeroflot was synonymous with Russian civil aviation.{{Fact|date=May 2007}} One of the rare examples of Soviet commercial advertisement was Aeroflot's slogan, "Fly on the planes of Aeroflot!"("Летайте самолетами Аэрофлота!"). The irony was that Aeroflot had no competitors and it was virtually impossible for an average Soviet citizen to fly on a non-Aeroflot plane. The advertisement was intended to entice people into using Aeroflot instead of cheaper though much slower long-distance [[trains]].

In January 1971 the Aeroflot Central Administration of International Air Traffic was established within the framework of [[IATA]], and became the industry's sole enterprise authorised to operate international flights. Abroad, the airline was known as Aeroflot Soviet Airlines. In 1976 Aeroflot carried its 100 millionth passenger. Its flights were mainly concentrated around the Soviet Union, but the airline also had an international network covering five continents: [[North America|North]] and [[South America]], [[Europe]], [[Africa]] and [[Asia]]. The network included countries such as the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Spain]], [[Cuba]], [[Mexico]], and [[People's Republic of China]]. Since the 1970s some transatlantic flights were flown using [[Shannon Airport]] in [[Ireland]] as an intermediate stop, as it was the westernmost non-[[NATO]] airport in Europe.

[[Image:aeroflot.ilyushin.il-96.arp.750pix.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Aeroflot [[Ilyushin Il-96]] in the previous livery.]]⏎
Aeroflot also performed myriad other functions, it provided Aeromedical, crop-dusting, heavy lifting for the Soviet Space Agency (see [[Soviet space program|Soviet Space Program]]), offshore oil platform support, exploration for natural resources, support for construction projects, transport of military troops and supplies (as an adjunct to the [[Soviet Air Force]]), atmospheric research, remote area patrol, but to name a few.{{Fact|date=May 2007}} It operated hundreds of helicopters and cargo aircraft in a(contracted; show full)perated separately as Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines (ARIA)<ref name="FI"/>. Some airline companies which were created from the old Aeroflot are now flag carriers of the newly independent countries of the [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]] &mdash; e.g., [[Uzbekistan Airways]]. Smaller regional airlines which emerged out of the old Aeroflot &mdash; sometimes just one-plane operations &mdash; were sometimes referred to as ''[[Babyflot]]s''.


[[Image:Tupolev Tu-154.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-154M.]]
In 1994 Aeroflot was registered as a [[joint stock company]] and the government sold off 49% of its stake to Aeroflot employees<ref name="FI"/>. There have been no fatal accidents since the crash of an [[Airbus A310]]-304, [[Aeroflot Flight 593|Flight 593]] on [[23 March]] [[1994]], with its efforts to improve its safety record since then<ref>http://latvia.aeroflot.ru/eng/news.asp?ob_no=447&d_no=2499 A Face Lift for Down-at-Heel Aeroflot New York Times, 7 April 2003</ref>.

During the 1990s Aeroflot was primarily focused on international flights from Moscow. However, by the end of the decade Aeroflot started an expansion in the domestic market. In 2000 the company name was changed to Aeroflot &mdash; Russian Airlines to reflect the change in the company's strategy.{{Fact|date=May 2007}}

In August 2007 based upon customer complaints The Port Authority Police Department of New York and New Jersey launched an investigation into lost or stolen luggage and other irregularities related to Aeroflot baggage operations at JFK Airport in New York.{{Fact|date=August 2007}}⏎
⏎
==Recent developments==
Aeroflot has been working towards redefining itself as a safe and reliable airline, hiring British consultants for rebranding at the beginning of the 2000s.{{Fact|date=May 2007}} A new livery and uniforms for flight attendants were designed and a promotional campaign launched in 2003. 
[[Image:Aeroflot logo.PNG|thumb|right|Current Aeroflot Logo|300px]]
Plans were afoot to get rid of the old Soviet-era logo complete with [[hammer and sickle]], which some people in the West treat as a reminder of the old Soviet eraSoviet [[communism]]. However, a customer survey showed that this was the most recognizable symbol of the company, and it was decided to keep it.{{Fact|date=May 2007}}

Aeroflot has also upgraded its fleet of western-built aircraft. It has a total of 24 [[A320|A320/A319]] jet planes for short-haul flights in Europe and 11 [[Boeing 767]] planes for long-haul routes. The total number of planes is 93. It carried 5.9 million passengers in 2003.

In the spring of 2004 the airline started an aggressive expansion on the domestic market aiming to gain 30% share by 2010 (as of 2006 it holds approximately 9%). The first task was to outperform one of its major rivals ''[[S7 Airlines]]'', the leader in the Russian domestic market. On [[July 29]] [[2004]] the company adopted a new corporate slogan: "Sincerely Yours. Aeroflot".

On [[April 14]] 2006 Aeroflot became the first air carrier in the former Soviet Union to join a global alliance ([[SkyTeam]]; another option was entry into [[Star Alliance]]). The airline will also get its own terminal at [[Sheremetyevo International Airport  ]] known as Sheremetyevo terminal 3 which will be finished by November 2007.

The company has announced its plan to increase cargo operations. It registered the "[[Aeroflot Cargo]]" trademark in 2004.{{Fact|date=May 2007}}

[[Image:Aeroflot_  Tu-154_  Zvartnots.jpg|thumb|270px|left|Aeroflot [[Tupolev Tu-154]] at [[Zvartnots International Airport]]]]

The airline is owned (as of March 2007) by the Russian Government via [[Rosimushchestvo]] (51.17%), National Reserve Corporation (27%) and employees and others (19%) and has 14,900 employees<ref name="FI"/>.

(contracted; show full)

==Destinations==
{{main|Aeroflot destinations}}

Aeroflot operates most of its flights from Sheremetyevo airport, but is planning to increase its presence in [[Saint Petersburg]], [[Pulkovo Airport]]{{Fact|date=August 2007}}. 
SinceOn June 1st, 2007, Aeroflot introduced flights to Munich, Berlin and Hamburg, and willsaid it would add flights to North America and Japan starting next year.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} The airline dropped most of its flights to Germany out of Pulkovo after a few weeks of operation. 

==Fleet==
===Passenger===
{{Wikinews|Aeroflot negotiates purchase of 22 new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft}}
The Aeroflot fleet includes the following aircraft as of AugustSeptember 2007:
<ref>http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/article2364152.ece Belfast Telegraph article.</ref>[http://www.aeroflot.ru/eng/company.asp?ob_no=739]
<center>
{| class="toccolours sortable" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse"
|+ '''Aeroflot Russian Airlines Fleet'''
|- bgcolor=lightblue
!Aircraft
!Total
!Passengers<br/>(Business*/Economy)
!Notes
|-
|[[Airbus A320|Airbus A319-100]]
|8 <br> (3 orders)
|116 (20/96)
|
|-
|[[Airbus A320|Airbus A320-200]]
|12 <br> (10 orders)
|140 (20/120)
|
|-
|[[Airbus A320|Airbus A321-200]]
|7 <br> (6 orders)
|170 (28/142)
|
|-
|[[Airbus A330|Airbus A330-200]]
|(10 orders)
|
|Entry into service: 2008
|-
|[[Airbus A350]]
|(22 orders)
|
|Entry into service: 2014
|-
|[[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-300ER]]
|11
|214 (30/184) <br> 218 (30/188) <br> 226 (30/196)
|
|-
|[[Boeing 787|Boeing 787-8]]
|(22 orders)
|
|Entry into service: 2014
|-
|[[Ilyushin Il-96|Ilyushin Il-96-300]]
|6 <br> (6 orders)
|231 (22/209)
|
|-
|[[Sukhoi Superjet 100]]
|(45 orders) 
|
|Launch customer <br> Entry into service: Late 2008
|-
|[[Tupolev Tu-134|Tupolev Tu-134-A and -B]]
|14
|64 (4/60)
|Exit from service: January 2008
|-
|[[Tupolev Tu-154|Tupolev Tu-154-M and -B]]
|28
|125 (14/111)
|Exit from service: 2010
|}
<sup> * Business Class is not offered on some short-haul routes⏎
⏎
  and select long haul flights.{{Fact|date=May 2007}}</sup>
</center>
[[Image:Aeroflot A320-200 VP-BWH.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Aeroflot [[Airbus A320]] at [[Düsseldorf]].]]⏎
Aeroflot's Western-made fleet is young, whereas most of the Russian jets (except for [[Ilyushin Il-96|Il-96s]]) are due to retire between 2008 and 2010. Aeroflot used to operate but later returned their 737s, A310s, and 777s.

Although there are a large amount of other Soviet aircraft in Aeroflot colors, they operate for other companies. As of 2007 Aeroflot operates Il-86 retired planes during summer rushes (e.g. night flight to Yerevan).⏎
[[Image:Aeroflot Il-86.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Officially retired [[Ilyushin Il-86|Il-86]] taxiing at [[Sheremetyevo International Airport|Sheremetyevo Airport]], August 2007]]

As of February 2007, the average age of the Aeroflot fleet was 6.7 years.{{Fact|date=May 2007}}

===Previously operated===
{{Unreferencedimprove|section|date=May 2007}}
During the Soviet era, almost all of Aeroflot's airliners were built by Soviet aircraft manufacturers. Virtually all civilian aircraft (and also some military) flying in the Soviet Union were considered as Aeroflot planes. This meant that Aeroflot was the airline with most planes in its fleet, since everything from small planes used to cropdusting fields to [[Il-62|Ilyushin 62]] with over 200 seats wore the Aeroflot brand.

(contracted; show full)

The first Western-made aircraft to be used by Aeroflot, the [[Airbus A310]], was acquired in 1992. The company also became a [[Boeing]] customer, acquiring new [[Boeing 767]] jet aircraft in 1994. Since then Aeroflot has also operated [[Boeing 737]]s, [[Airbus A320]]s, and the cargo version of the [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10|Douglas DC-10s]].

In 1998 Aeroflot leased 2 [[Boeing 777]]s. Both 
of them have alreadyjet have since been returned.

===Fleet expansion===
[[Image:AeroflotYYZ.JPG|thumb|right|An Aeroflot Boeing 767-300ER at [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto Pearson International]]]]
(contracted; show full)
* Gold, attained if member has flown 50000 miles or 50 segments during calendar year
{{section-stub}}

==Incidents and accidents==
There are records of approximately 127 accidents involving Aeroflot aircraft and 6,875 fatalities (plus 20 people killed on the ground), making an average of 54.13 fatalities per accident since 1953<ref>http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/airline_detail.cgi?airline=Aeroflot AirDisaster.com Accident Data</ref>. 
Some notable incidents in recent years include:
*On [[27 May]] [[1977]], an [[1977 Aeroflot Ilyushin 62 crash|Ilyushin 62 crashed]] near [[Havana]], in the second worse aviation disIt is worth noting with these figures that Aeroflot had a monopoly on air travel during the Soviet era, and was the largest airline in the world, and performed a myriad of other functions in addition to passenger travel. The laster in [[Cuba]]n history.cident with fatalities occurred in 1994:⏎

*On [[23 March]] [[1994]], an RAL-Russian Air Lines [[Airbus A310]]-304, operating [[Aeroflot Flight 593|Flight 593]] crashed in [[Mezhdurechensk]], [[Siberia]] after the pilot allowed his 15-year-old son to take the controls.⏎
*On [[11 November]] [[1998]], an Ilyushin IL-62 crashed in [[Anchorage]], [[Alaska]], with no fatalities.

==References==
{{reflist|2 This was the most recent disaster involving Aeroflot.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Aeroflot}}
*[http://www.aeroflot.ru/eng/ Aeroflot Official Website]
*[http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/Aeroflot.htm Aeroflot Fleet Age]
*[http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=SU&al_op=1 Aeroflot Fleet Information]


{{SkyTeam_Alliance}}
{{Airlines of Russia}}