OREANDA-NEWS. Aeroflot became the only Russian airline in the rating of 50 most innovative Russian companies.

The ranking is based on a study conducted by the Institute of social and economic modernization (ISEM). The main purposes were to determine the current state of innovation sphere in Russia and mark the companies actively developing and implementing innovative solutions in the domestic market, as well as figuring out problem areas of innovation sphere.

The rating was formed in two stages. During the first phase ISEM experts compiled a list of the 73 largest Russian companies claiming innovation leadership. The second phase was the online vote of market experts (representatives of venture capital investment companies; journalists, academic, scientific, and other professional organizations of innovation sphere).

Aeroflot took the 15th place in the ranking outstripping companies like Gazprom, MTS, Megafon, Sibur, and VTB Group.

JSC "Aeroflot" is the airline with a powerful vector for innovation development. The leading Russian carrier actively implements the latest technologies in all the operation areas, including service quality improvement. The Airline has Innovative Development Committee, Innovation Development Program and Road Map. Currently, dozens of R&D works are carried out for implementation of innovative solutions.

Сelebrating its 90-th anniversary in 2013, Aeroflot is Russia's flagship airline and the largest national air company. Proudly being a member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance, Aeroflot with its partnering members provides service to more than 1000 destinations in 178 countries. Aeroflot operates one of the most modern and youngest fleets in Europe counting 141 aircraft formed by Airbus, Boeing and Sukhoi airliners with an average airplane age between five and six years old. In 2012 Aeroflot carried 17.7 million passengers (27.5 million passengers as Aeroflot Group), continuously showing the best results in modern Russia's history. In June 2013 Aeroflot was for the second time awarded by SKYTRAX as The Best Airline in Eastern Europe.