OREANDA-NEWS. Aeroflot today launched a special programme to honour veterans of the Second World War with free air travel. The programme, under which Aeroflot began accepting bookings today, is part of the 70th anniversary Victory Day celebrations.

World War II veterans residing in Russia and other former Soviet states, those disabled as a result of the war and those held prisoner of war as children are eligible to receive a free tickets for themselves and one accompanying passenger. Taxes and other fees will be paid by Aeroflot.

Special check-in counters will be set up at airports across the country to accommodate traveling veterans. Aeroflot will make special arrangements to assist veterans as they pass through security screenings, customs and border control points and transfer between flights. Veterans will also be offered vouchers for meals at airport restaurants and complementary hotel stays for layovers in excess of six hours.

Bookings can be made from today through 12 May 2015 for travel starting 3 May. Travel is available on Aeroflot flights as well as flights of Aeroflot subsidiary airlines.

Aeroflot has also introduced new liveries on many of its aircraft featuing the Ribbon of St. George and a white dove, the official symbols of Victory Day in Russia.

About Aeroflot

Aeroflot is Russia’s flagship carrier and one of the largest airline groups in Europe. In 2014 Aeroflot carried 23.6 million passengers (34.7 million passengers as Aeroflot Group including subsidiaries) a record for any Russian airline. A proud member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance Aeroflot and its partners serve 1,052 destinations in 177 countries worldwide. Aeroflot operates the youngest fleet in the world among major airlines, numbering 155 Airbus, Boeing and Sukhoi airliners. Aeroflot is among the global leaders in aviation safety. The Company’s European Community Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) Index, which is the main globally recognized safety parameter, is comparable to global peers. The first Russian carrier to enter the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) register, renewing its registration for the fifth time in 2013. Aeroflot has successfully passed the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) and is fully ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 compliant. In 2014 Aeroflot was named by SKYTRAX as the Best Airline in Eastern Europe for the third time.