Russian airlines see 7% passenger decline as daily drone attacks disrupt airports

Russian civil aviation recorded a 7% reduction in passenger volumes during the recent travel period, with 39.5 million travelers recorded between May and August, compared with about 42.6 million a year earlier. The downturn coincides with near-daily disruptions at airports caused by Ukrainian drone attacks, which have forced repeated closures and limited airspace use. Dmitry Yadrov, head of Rosaviatsia, briefed Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, emphasizing that airlines, airports and navigation services have maintained normal, reliable, and safe operations despite these challenges.

The Economic Development Ministry projects that total passenger traffic will reach 108.5 million in 2026, a marginal 0.3% drop from the prior year, attributing the slowdown to systemic constraints such as difficulties maintaining foreign aircraft and extended closures in southern regions. Aviation analysts warn that demand could fall further if the government introduces additional passenger surcharges, estimated to raise between 68 billion and 84 billion rubles each year to offset higher leasing and fuel costs.