Summer Air Travel in Russia Slides Seven Per cent as Fleet and Sanctions Headwinds Mount

Image generated with Ai

The number of passengers carried by Russia’s airlines reached 39.5 million between May and August 2026, marking a drop of 7% from 42.6 million passengers transported in the same period in 2025. The fall concerns the market, where the majority of passengers use domestic flights, and the international routes link Russia to 37 foreign countries, based on the data provided for this report. During the four months, the number of passengers using domestic flights amounted to 29.6 million, while 9.9 million passengers used the international routes. The figures show the role of domestic air transportation in travelling in Russia, where long distances between large cities make air transportation an important part of the transport system. In addition, the drop is a challenge for tourism companies, airports and destinations in the regions which depend on air transportation. A reduced number of passengers could affect the flow of tourists in major cities, regional attractions and destinations accessible through limited transport options. According to Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development, Russian airlines will transport 108.5 million passengers in 2026, which represents a reduction of 0.3% compared to 2025.

Aeroflot Group Maintains Its Leading Position

Aeroflot Group carried 21 million passengers during the four months, accounting for 53.5% of the market, according to the supplied figures. The group includes Aeroflot, Rossiya Airlines and Pobeda, giving it a substantial presence across domestic and international routes.

Aircraft utilisation also remained high. Russian airlines recorded an average passenger seat occupancy rate of 89.8% between May and August. S7 Airlines reported the highest load factor at 95.6%, followed by Smartavia at 95.5%, while Pobeda approached 95%.

High seat occupancy alongside declining passenger numbers suggests that airlines are continuing to manage capacity carefully. However, load factors alone do not establish profitability, which also depends on fares, operating costs, aircraft availability and route economics.

For tourists, these operating conditions can influence flight frequency, connections and ticket availability. Travellers planning journeys across Russia should compare schedules and book ahead on routes with limited alternatives, particularly during popular holiday periods.

Regional Routes Become More Important for Tourism

More than 53% of Russian flights reportedly operate without involving Moscow, reflecting efforts to strengthen connections between regional cities. This is significant for tourism because Russia’s major attractions extend far beyond the capital.

Saint Petersburg attracts visitors through its historic architecture, museums and cultural institutions. Kazan offers a distinctive combination of Tatar and Russian heritage, while Sochi serves as a Black Sea resort destination. Further east, Vladivostok provides access to coastal scenery and the Russian Far East.

Direct connections between regional centres can reduce the need for passengers to transfer through Moscow. They may also make multi-city itineraries more practical for domestic tourists and international visitors entering Russia through alternative gateways.

Official aviation data also identified passenger growth at several regional airports during May–August 2026. Vladivostok recorded growth of 9.5%, Khabarovsk increased by 4.6%, and Novosibirsk rose by 3.4%, according to Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency.

These figures indicate that passenger trends differ between airports. While national airline traffic declined, selected regional gateways continued to expand, creating opportunities for destinations with improving connectivity.

Aircraft Constraints and Airport Closures Limit Growth

Russia’s aviation industry continues to face structural challenges, including limited access to foreign aircraft maintenance, spare parts and technical support. Restrictions affecting international aviation have complicated the servicing of imported aircraft, while the closure of several airports in southern Russia has reduced available route options.

These constraints can affect both domestic tourism and international travel. Fewer available aircraft or disrupted airport operations may limit capacity, increase journey times or require passengers to use alternative airports and connections.

The government has identified expanding the domestic aircraft fleet, developing locally produced aircraft and improving regional airport infrastructure as priorities. Investment in airports serving remote areas, including the Arctic and Far East, is particularly relevant to tourism because many destinations are separated by considerable distances.

Russia also continues to operate subsidised air travel programmes intended to improve affordability and support selected routes. In 2026, three subsidy programmes were continuing, with funding of 22.9 billion roubles allocated to support planned travel by more than 4.5 million passengers, according to the Federal Air Transport Agency.

Russia Travel Outlook for the Rest of 2026

According to the Ministry of Economic Development, the number of passengers who will travel by air transport within Russia in 2026 is predicted to reach 108.5 million people, which would be a 0.3% decrease from 2025. The passenger turnover is predicted to be 288.4 billion passenger-kilometres, or an increase of 1.4%, indicating an increasing tendency to fly longer distances despite the reduction in the number of passengers. Planning is still important for any travelers. In case of international travellers, they should find out about available routes, entry requirements, and flight schedules; and in case of domestic travellers, they should check airport opening hours and connection times. Travel insurance and flexible bookings will help if the traveller plans to make more than one flight during his/her trip. Russian summer statistics indicate a troubled market but no general decline. Growth of regional airports, seat load factor and investments in connectivity are examples of positive trends.