Moscow-based Aeroflot Russian Airlines has cut back on unprofitable routes, upgraded its fleet, and is allying with Western airlines. It flies passengers and cargo to 103 destinations in 54 countries accounting for 36 per cent of Russia's international air travel. The air fleet totals 104 planes including Airbus, Boeing and DC-10. Recently the company started a large-scale programme of air fleet restructuring. All imported planes will be replaced by new ones.

The company employs around 15,000 workers, including 2,000 flight experts, over 500 of them pilots. Aeroflot has the largest flight control centre in Eastern Europe. The entire flight management process is automated in real-time ensuring high flight safety (99.94%) and corresponding to the level of the world's most reliable airlines.

Aeroflot has cut costly flights to some unprofitable routes like Miami and Jakarta, while increasing the frequency of more profitable flights to Berlin, London, Paris, and Prague. To boost its domestic presence, the company has increased the frequency of routes within Russia and removed "international" from its name.

To allow more convenient connections between flights and to gain entry into a global airlines alliance, Aeroflot is building a new terminal at the Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow.

The Russian government controls 51% of Aeroflot, the company's employees and other legal entities hold 49%.

For further information visit their Website on www.aeroilot.ru (tel: 7-095-155-6643; fax: 7-095-258-0684)