OREANDA-NEWS. On 02 February 2009 was announced, that in 2008 Transaero achieved nearly 50% growth in all key operational figures, becoming the second largest Russian airline in terms of passenger traffic and the third largest Russian carrier in terms of passengers carried.

Revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) grew by 5,790 million to a total of 17,549 million, a 49% increase over 2007;

Number of passengers carried grew by 2.759 million, reaching a total of over 4.853 million, 50% more than in 2007;

Freight turnover grew by 558 million tons km to a total of 1,709 million tkm, a 48% increase over 2007. Transaero delivered a total of 24,259 tons of mail and cargo in 2008, up 35% from 2007.

Currently Transaero is Russia’s second largest carrier on international routes, with 14,662 million RPK and 4.227 million passengers carried.

12 new aircraft were added to the carrier’s fleet in 2008, including one Tupolev 214, two Boeing 777s, four Boeing 747s, four Boeing 767s and one Boeing 737. Transaero is the largest operator of long-haul aircraft in Russia and is the only operator of Boeing 777 aircraft in Russia and the only operator of Boeing 747-400s passenger aircraft in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe. At the end of 2008, the Transaero fleet comprised 42 modern aircraft, including twelve Boeing 747s, two Boeing 777s, eleven 767s, fifteen 737s and two Tupolev 214s. Transaero also received IOSA certification in 2008.

In 2008 Transaero expanded its route network. The airline launched 8 new scheduled flights, including flights from Moscow to Anapa, Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk, Tomsk and Tivat, and from St. Petersburg to Punta-Kana, Tokyo and Barcelona. In 2009 Transaero will devote special attention to the development of its domestic travel network by increasing flight frequency and launching new routes.

Transaero is always working to improve its services. In 2008 Transaero introduced its new, exclusive Imperial Class. Transaero’s Imperial Class is based on the best traditions in Russian Imperial hospitality combined with state-of-the-art technologies. The new class is available on Transaero’s Boeing 777s and 747-400 aircraft flying long haul routes. These flights now have four class configurations, including Imperial Class, Business Class, Premium Economy Class and Tourist Economy Class.

Transaero is rapidly developing electronic commerce. In 2008 e-tickets accounted for over 80% of the net sales volume of all Transaero flights.