OREANDA-NEWS. April 14, 2009. JSC Aeroflot Russian Airlines won the Russian national award Wings of Russia 2008 in two main nominations, “Air Carrier of the Year: Passenger Traffic on Domestic Lines” and “Air Carrier of the Year: Passenger Traffic on International Lines”, in the category of large company, reported the press-centre of Aeroflot.

‘Wings of Russia’ has been the industry’s main award for 12 years, celebrating the Russian national companies’ achievements in the civil aviation development. This year, 43 Russian airlines competed with each other for the right to be called the Company of the Year in different nominations.

Winners and laureates were chosen by secret voting in the Public Board of the Award, whose 119 members included civil aviation veterans, representatives from the Russian Government, federal agencies and social organizations, and the industry related journalists.

Passenger carriers were assessed in terms of flight safety, passenger turnover, total passengers carried, load factor, total income from passenger traffic, economic efficiency and other professional criteria.

JSC Aeroflot Russian Airlines (AFLT) is one the world’s oldest and most renowned airlines, undoubted leader of the Russian civil aviation and de-facto Russia’s national carrier.

In 2008, the company carried about 10 million passengers, within the Aeroflot Group – 12 million; the air traffic flow grew by 27% on domestic lines. Conforming to the IATA resolution, the company completed a 100% transition to the e-ticket technology (in December 2008 e-ticket sales reached 56%). The company has sold 3 million e-tickets and is now in the top 5 of European air carriers by the quality of services.

By the end of 2008, the company was operating 99 routes with the average of 9.1 flights a week.

Since March 2008, Aeroflot’s quality management system has been certified in compliance with ISO 9001:2000; the company’s flight safety level of 99.955% corresponds to the world’s highest standards. In 2008 the company also completed the construction of the Sheremetyevo 3 Passenger Terminal – the furnishing of 10,000 m2 of departure lounges, and structures installation. The terminal is to be launched in October 2009.

Aeroflot understands its high social responsibility, and is committed to further implementation of its social projects. The company annually holds the traditional campaign “Following the War Glory”; cooperates with medical institutions carrying sick or disabled children to foreign clinics; together with the “Give Life” Foundation continues the charity program “Mercy Miles”; supports artistically gifted children with Vladimir Spivakov’s International Foundation; together with “Radio Russia” participates in the campaign “Train of Hope”, part of the social project “Children’s Question”. Aeroflot also provides support to Russian Culture festivals conducted abroad, and cooperates with Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory.

The company has a consistent and systematic approach to social activity, based on complex socially oriented programs.