MOSCOW, November 12, 2025—Aeroflot, Russia’s flagship carrier, navigated a challenging travel landscape in the first 10 months of 2025, reporting a modest decline in overall passenger traffic while simultaneously achieving significant growth in profitability driven by its international routes. The airline transported 25.2 million passengers between January and October, representing a 2.3% year-over-year decrease; however, robust performance in global markets propelled passenger turnover—a key metric reflecting distance traveled and revenue generation—up by 5.2% during the same period.
The nuanced figures released today highlight the shifting priorities and operational successes of one of the world’s major carriers as it balances domestic slowdowns against increasing demand for global travel.
Shifting Passenger Dynamics Define Carrier’s Performance
While total passenger volume slightly contracted, the underlying segmented data reveals a powerful divergence between domestic and international segments. International travel emerged as the primary growth engine for Aeroflot. From January through October, the carrier saw an 8.8% increase in international passengers, reaching 8.16 million individuals.
This overseas rebound effectively compensated for sluggish activity within Russia’s borders. The overall decline in passenger numbers was primarily attributed to a 6.8% drop in domestic travelers, stabilizing at roughly 17 million for the 10-month period.
This trend suggests that while domestic travel demand may have plateaued or faced temporary headwinds—potentially due to economic factors or competitive pressures—Aeroflot successfully capitalized on higher-value, longer-haul international routes.
Monthly Recovery Signals Positive Momentum
Further analyzing the data shows that the airline gained traction moving into the final months of the period. October 2025 painted a more optimistic picture, with monthly passenger traffic registering a 1.3% increase year-over-year, totaling 2.51 million passengers.
The gains were unilaterally led by overseas destinations. Passenger volumes on international routes surged by 14.7% in October alone, demonstrating a strong seasonal rush or increased operational focus on high-demand global corridors.
Key Performance Indicators (January–October 2025):
- Total Passengers Carried: 25.2 million (down 2.3%)
- Total Passenger Turnover: Up 5.2%
- International Passengers: Up 8.8% (to 8.16 million)
- Domestic Passengers: Down 6.8% (to approximately 17 million)
Implications for the Global Aviation Market
Aeroflot’s results underscore a critical shift in the post-pandemic aviation landscape: airlines are increasingly prioritizing revenue quality (turnover) over sheer volume (headcount). Higher passenger turnover indicates that, even with fewer overall travelers, those flying are taking longer, more expensive routes, which are typically international.
For consumers, the aggressive focus on international routes often translates to increased route availability and potentially more competitive pricing on long-haul flights. However, domestic travelers may find that services are stable or that the carrier’s attention is diverted away from expanding regional connectivity.
Moving forward, industry analysts will watch whether Aeroflot can sustain this growth in international turnover while stabilizing its core domestic market. The strong October performance indicates a potentially positive trajectory for the full year, suggesting that strategic route network adjustments and pricing strategies are effectively boosting the bottom line.