Russian airline Ural Airlines experienced a remarkable increase in international passenger traffic in 2024, marking a significant shift in its operations. The Yekaterinburg-based airline carried 9.522 million passengers over the year, reflecting a 1% year-on-year increase and positioning it as the fifth-largest airline in Russia.
While total passenger numbers remained close to pre-pandemic levels, the balance between domestic and international flights changed dramatically. Domestic traffic declined by 18%, totaling 5.528 million passengers, but international routes surged by an astonishing 300 times. The airline transported nearly 969,460 international passengers in 2024, a stark contrast to just 3,000 the previous year.
This surge was fueled by the resolution of an ownership dispute involving 19 Airbus A320 family aircraft, allowing Ural Airlines to ramp up its revenue-generating international flights. Additionally, flights to CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries saw a 14% increase, with 3.025 million passengers traveling across these routes.
To support this international expansion, Ural Airlines introduced seven new overseas destinations. The airline launched flights from Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok to Beijing, from Moscow Domodedovo to Istanbul and Samarkand, from Sochi to Dubai, and from Zhukovsky and Sochi to Baku. These new connections mark a strategic effort to strengthen the airline’s global presence.
Despite a minor shortfall compared to 2019 passenger levels, Ural Airlines’ long-haul traffic has exceeded pre-crisis figures, indicating growing demand for international travel. With its expanding route network and renewed aircraft fleet, the airline is poised for further growth in the global aviation market.
