Aeroflot raises group passenger traffic forecast for 2024 to 55 mln

VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 5 (Interfax) - Aeroflot has raised its forecast for group passenger traffic in 2024 to 55 million passengers from the previously projected 53 million, the company's CEO, Sergei Aleksandrovsky told reporters at the Eastern Economic Forum.

"We're growing faster than the market. For all the worked months of 2024 we showed growth of 21.4%-22%. In the summer months, July-August, the pace slowed a little taking into account the high base of last year. But overall we have no doubt that we'll reach the figure of 55 million people,' Aleksandrovsky said.

The breakdown of group passenger traffic by domestic and international flights is averaging about 70% and 30%, respectively, he said.

Aeroflot Group carried 47.3 million passengers in 2023, so the figure could grow by 16% this year.

Russia overall air travel market grew by 8% in the first half of 2024, while Aeroflot grew by 21.4%, Aleksandrovsky recalled.

However, next year "it will be difficult to expect the same scale of growth without additional planes, since in 2024 the group has reached record figures for rate of aircraft operation, fleet flying time and seat occupancy rate," he said.

"The challenge will be to at least maintain the current level [of passenger traffic]. Additional potential for growth are wet leasing, possibly getting additional aircraft. These are clear sources of growth," Aleksandrovsky said.