Russia becomes Europe's top airline market with a smaller reduction in seats

24 April, 2020

CAPA - Centre for Aviation, in a report entitled: 'Russia now Europe's #1 airline market, thanks to domestic size', stated (24-Apr-2020) Russia is now Europe's biggest market by airline seats in the week of 20-Apr-2020, based on data from OAG. Russia's seat capacity decreased 74.7% year-on-year, compared to a 90.4% decline in Europe. The 74.7 reduction in total Russian seat numbers is the deepest cut so far in the country's weekly capacity during the coronavirus crisis, while capacity data for the week commencing 27-Apr-2020 point to a narrowing of the reduction in seats to 55.1%. Aeroflot and other Russian airline groups have an advantage relative to European peers in having a much higher share of revenue in the domestic market. The relative strength of Russia's domestic market could prove to be an enduring advantage for the nation and its leading airlines. [more - CAPA Analysis]