The Ministry of Transport plans to transport Russian airlines at the level of 23 million passengers in 101

(This material was produced in Russia, where law restricts coverage of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.)

MOSCOW, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Transport Minister Vitaly Saveliev expects Russian airlines to carry more than 101 million passengers in 2023.

“In 2023, we plan to carry more than 101 million passengers. The relevant plans have been communicated to the airlines,” Savelyev said at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

At the same time, according to him, the final volume of traffic can be adjusted taking into account the extension of the closure of 11 airports in southern Russia.

Saveliev said airline passenger traffic in 2022 was 95 million, compared to 111 million in 2021. Thus, airlines last year reduced transportation by 14.4% annually.

The final figures were lower than the transport ministry’s estimate: the agency predicted that 100 million people would be transported in 2022.

Last year, the Russian aviation sector, like other sectors of the economy, faced a new crisis following the 2020 pandemic, when Russia sent troops into Ukraine on February 24 as part of a “special military sting operation”.

Western sanctions have banned Russian airlines from flying to Europe, the United States and some other countries, and Russian authorities have closed several airports in the south and west of the Russian Federation in areas bordering Ukraine. Is.

Since March last year, the Federal Air Transport Agency has stopped publishing detailed statistics on air travel. (Daria Korsunskaya)