Aeroflot also known as the de facto national airline of Russia is the largest airline in the country based on passengers carried per year. This oldest airline in the world’s history dates back to 1923. Aeroflot is based in Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport and operates domestic and international passenger services to 93 cities over 47 countries.

During the Soviet era, Aeroflot was the Soviet national airline and the largest in the world. With the dissolution of the USSR, Aeroflot was transformed from a state-owned bureaucracy into a semi-privatised airline which ranks among the most profitable in the world.

In 1994 Aeroflot was registered as a joint stock company and the government sold off 49% of its stake to Aeroflot employees. In the 90s, Aeroflot focused on international flights from Moscow. By the decade end, Aeroflot expanded into the domestic market and in 2000 changed its name to Aeroflot-Russian Airlines.

Aeroflot was redefined as a safe and reliable airline and took on British consultants in the new millennium. The aircrafts were refurbished and flight attendant with new uniforms. A promotional campaign was launched in 2003. Though Aeroflot intended to change the Soviet-era hammer and sickle logo, it was retained due to a customer survey indicating it was a recognizable symbol. Aeroflot upgraded its western-built fleet with 24 A320/A319 jet planes for short-haul flights to Europe and 11 Boeing 767 planes for long-haul routes, making a total of 93 planes that carried 5.9 million passengers in 2003.

In 2004, Aeroflot launched an aggressive campaign on the domestic market to gain 30% share by 2010. It intended to outperform a major rival, S7 Airlines, the leader in the Russian domestic market. Aeroflot took on a new corporate slogan – “Sincerely Yours, Aeroflot on July 29, 2004. It became the first air carrier in the former Soviet Union to join a global alliance, SkyTeam in April 14, 2006. Its expansion included its own terminal at Sheremetyevo International Airport known as Sheremetyevo terminal 3 completed in November 2007. Aeroflot further expanded to increase cargo operations.

Aeroflot has embarked on a fleet modernization exercise, extensive route restructuring and a revamp of its image in order to bring up the airline to world standards. The airline joined SkyTeam in April 2006.

By March 2007, Aeroflot was owned by the Russian Government through Rosimushchestvo (51.17%), National Reserve Corporation (27%) and employees and others (19%) and had 14,900 employees. In 2006, Aeroflot carried 7.29 million passengers and 145,300 tons of mail and cargo to 89 destinations in 47 countries.