Decline in Million-Dollar Airports Count Within Russian Territory
Grozny Airport's Slump
In a surprising turn of events, Grozny Airport dropped off the list of millionaire airports in 2024, registering a 5.4% drop in passenger traffic to 951,500 people. However, the growth of domestic tourism in 2023 saw a 29.3% surge in passenger traffic, reaching the milestone of 1 million people.
According to the airport's press service, the dispiriting dip in passenger flow was due to "restrictive work conditions" associated with constructing a new terminal and runway, limiting the acceptance and departure of aircraft. RIA Novosti reported this info.
Sheremetyevo (43.9 million people), Pulkovo (20.9 million), and Vnukovo (16 million) remained at the top of the list, with Domodedovo following closely behind in fourth place, serving 15.6 million passengers yearly. Unfortunately, Domodedovo's numbers took a hit, falling by 21.9%. Conversely, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo observed a 20% and 11% rise in passenger traffic, respectively.
Sheremetyevo claimed the crown for highest passenger growth in 2024, largely thanks to Aeroflot's performance. Aeroflot successfully increased passenger volume by 19.3% to reach 30.1 million, primarily by enhancing aircraft cleanliness and augmenting international flight numbers, according to RIA Novosti. Pobeda and Rossiya’s small airline fleet also took off from Sheremetyevo, boosting Aeroflot’s numbers.
Aeroflot CEO Sergey Alexandrovsky shared this information in a February 3 interview with Rossiya 24, stating that the group’s passenger traffic skyrocketed by 16.8% to an impressive 55.3 million in 2024, with 36.8 million passengers passing through Sheremetyevo, representing a 19% boost from the previous year.
Domodedovo, having held the top spot for passenger traffic from 2005 to 2015, faced a significant setback in 2024. S7 Airlines, a substantial portion of Domodedovo's passenger traffic, had to ax some flights due to engine troubles with Pratt & Whitney engines on Airbus A320neo/A321neo aircraft in 2023. To mitigate the issue, Domodedovo collaborated with Royal Jordanian and Qanot Sharq airlines, resuming flights on more than ten routes, as reported by RIA Novosti.
Indications suggest that the list of million-passenger airports could expand by 2025. Alongside airports in Vladikavkaz, Yelizovo (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky), and Blagoveshchensk, Grozny Airport may be back in the game, serving 1 million passengers again, given the right efforts.
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Enrichment Data:Grozny Airport's 2024 slump stemmed primarily from a tragic aircraft accident involving a flight bound for Grozny. On December 25, 2024, an Embraer 190-100 IGW operating under Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) encountered misfortune near Aktau airport in Kazakhstan, leading to substantial casualties with 38 lives lost and 29 survivors, thanks to the crew's emergency landing endeavors. The aftermath included ongoing investigations, visits by investigative specialists, and lingering impacts on the airport's operations and passenger confidence during the affected period. Despite these setbacks, Grozny Airport aims for a recovery by 2025, aiming to serve 1 million passengers through operational recovery, safety assurance, and increased airline and passenger activity, though detailed recovery plans are not explicitly provided in the search results. The airport's aspiration likely revolves around rebuilding passenger confidence, enhancing safety measures, and possibly expanding or upgrading airport facilities to accommodate increased traffic, with rebound strategies typically incorporating these components. Air travel recovery post-accidents typically includes reinforced safety protocols, marketing efforts to restore the airport’s reputation, and increasing airline services and routes to attract travelers.
In the realm of finance, Grozny Airport might see a potential recovery and re-entry into the list of million-passenger airports by 2025, as part of the business strategy to restore passenger confidence and rebound from the slump. If successful, this could involve improvements in airline and passenger activity, increased safety measures, and possible upgrades to airport facilities, much like air travel recovery post-accidents, as demonstrated in similar situations.
With the expansion of the list of million-passenger airports anticipated for 2025 and air travel business displaying resilience, Grozny Airport could capitalize on sports events or private partnerships to bolster its passenger traffic, thereby consolidating its position in the competitive landscape of aviation and business.
