When talking about Aeroflot, největší ruská letecká společnost s původem ještě v sovětské éře. Also known as Aeroflot Russian International Airlines, it is one of the oldest airlines still operating, with roots stretching back to 1923. For decades, Aeroflot was the only airline allowed to fly international routes from the Soviet Union, and even today, it remains the flag carrier of Russia, connecting hundreds of destinations across Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Aeroflot isn’t just a company—it’s a symbol. It represents how state control shapes aviation, how geopolitics dictates flight paths, and how sanctions can cripple even the most established brands. After 2022, when Western countries banned Russian airlines from their airspace, Aeroflot lost access to most of its traditional routes. Planes that once flew to Paris, London, or New York were grounded or rerouted through Turkey, Kazakhstan, or the Middle East. The airline had to scramble to buy new aircraft, often from countries that didn’t care about Western sanctions. Many of its older jets, once the pride of its fleet, were retired or cannibalized for parts. What’s left is a carrier that still flies, but one that’s been cut off from the global network it once dominated.
What you won’t hear much about is how Aeroflot’s internal operations changed. Pilots and crew had to relearn navigation systems, switch to non-Western tech, and adapt to new maintenance standards. Passengers noticed fewer amenities, longer layovers, and more unpredictable schedules. Meanwhile, Russian citizens who used to fly abroad for business or leisure now face limited options and higher prices. Aeroflot became less about service and more about survival. It’s no longer just an airline—it’s a political tool, a lifeline for the Russian economy, and a test case for how isolation affects global infrastructure.
And yet, Aeroflot still flies. It still has a fleet, still has routes, still has passengers. It’s not gone. It’s just different. What you’ll find in the articles below are stories that touch on Aeroflot—not always directly, but always in the background. From canceled flights to diplomatic fallout, from airline workers stranded abroad to the ripple effects on tourism and trade. These aren’t just aviation stories. They’re stories about borders, power, and what happens when a country cuts itself off from the world—and tries to keep flying anyway.