Rosaviatsia forecasts 5% growth in passenger numbers for domestic flights in 2023

MOSCOW. April 17 (Interfax) - In 2023, Russian airlines are expected to carry 81.9 million people on domestic routes, said Vladimir Poteshkin, deputy head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, at a meeting on preparations for the tourist season organized by the Ministry of Economic Development.

"As for domestic transportation, we plan to carry 81.9 million passengers inside the country," he said.

Last year, according to the Federal Air Transport Agency, passenger traffic inside Russia totaled 77.7 million people. In 2023, that number could grow more than 5%.

According to the previously announced forecast by the Transport Ministry, the total passenger traffic of Russian airlines this year will be 101 million people, which is 6% more than in 2022. The total volume of traffic can be adjusted somewhat due to the extended closure of 11 airports in southern Russia, the head of the department, Vitaly Savelyev, said.

The opening of at least two of the southern airports - Krasnodar and Gelendzhik - "would have a significant impact on flight opportunities for Russians," Deputy Transport Minister Igor Chalik said at the meeting on Monday.