Supporting Charities and Regional Development

As a socially responsible business, PJSC Aeroflot runs many charitable programmes. Aeroflot Group airlines participate in programmes improving transport accessibility, which subsequently contributes to the economic and social development of Russia’s regions, and provide support to cultural and sports initiatives. Aeroflot Group plays an active role in local community life, providing both continuous support to charities and assistance to socially-oriented initiatives. The Company provides support to vulnerable groups, including children and veterans. The Group’s subsidiaries contribute to charity campaigns initiated by Aeroflot airline and provide aid in the regions in which they operate.

Aeroflot is always ready to provide aid to Russian citizens in need in all corners of the world, whether amid armed conflicts or natural disasters. The Company’s aircraft have repeatedly evacuated people from flashpoint areas along with the airplanes from Russia’s emergency response service (EMERCON).

Improving accessibility to Russia’s regions

Improving accessibility to Russia’s regions, including remote destinations, and enhancing social mobility remains a major priority for Aeroflot. Aeroflot airline has an extensive route network and supports a government-sponsored programme that maintains airline passenger services between the Far East and European Russia.

Aeroflot airline has been running a flat fare programme since 2015. Flat rates are fixed prices for economy class tickets that do not change depending on the date when the tickets are bought. All passengers regardless of age and place of residence can enjoy the flat rates. The only aim of Aeroflot’s flat rates is to make social impact. That is, to provide stable and affordable connections between remote and strategic regions and the central part of European Russia. Today, flat rates are available for Aeroflot flights from Moscow to Vladivostok, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Khabarovsk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Magadan, Simferopol, Kaliningrad, and back. Rossiya airline joined the programme in 2018, providing a major boost in the overall passenger traffic to the Far East.

Aeroflot airline extended the flat rates programme for Far Eastern destinations through to 2019, both for Aeroflot and Rossiya flights. A total of 2.2 million passengers were carried under the flat rate programme in 2018 (including Rossiya flights), a 41.3% increase from 2017, and a total of 6.8 million passengers have been carried under the programme since 2015.

Aeroflot Group places a special focus on expanding its domestic route network. Specifically, Aeroflot launched flights in 2018 from Moscow to the North Caucasus (Vladikavkaz, Grozny, Makhachkala, Nazran, and Nalchik) and to Izhevsk and Ulyanovsk in the Volga region.

Aurora carried 75,700 passengers on socially important flights within the Sakhalin Region and 35 thousand passengers to destinations within the Primorsky Region. Since June 2018 (the commencement of flights), the company carried 19,700 passengers within the Khabarovsk Region. The total passenger traffic on the local flights (within a region) was 130,500 passengers (99,500 passengers in 2017).

Support to charities and socially-oriented campaigns

Train of Hope

In 2018, Aeroflot once again provided support to the Children’s Flight of the Train of Hope initiative organised by Radio Russia as part of its Child’s Question project. The Train of Hope is a charity programme helping children deprived of parental care to find new families. The Company arranges free air transportation for both the children and prospective adoptive parents

Orphanage support

During 2018, the Company continued to support two orphanages: the Pokrov Orphanage in the Vladimir Region and St Sergius Boarding School in the Sergiev Posad District in the Moscow Region. A total of RUB 17 million went towards charitable support for orphanages in 2018.

For the Pokrov Orphanage children, Aeroflot organised holidays at a recreational camp, set up a street workout park, renovated the orphanage building, and purchased medical equipment, furniture, and computers. The Company also bought presents for the children in the days leading up to New Year’s celebrations.

Aeroflot also arranged renovations for St Sergius Boarding School and bought a coach bus for the children. The Company organised Kudo and football master classes and a charitable arts and crafts show featuring the children’s work.

Targeted aid

In 2018, Aeroflot provided financial support to the Celebrities Help Children (Zvezdy Detyam) Foundation, the Russian Geographical Society, the Contemporary Arts Development Fund (CADF), the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), and the Tarasov Golden Puck Club.

The Company also provided support to the Alina Kabaeva Charitable Foundation, which held Alina, an annual rhythmic gymnastics festival for talented children from across Russia. The children and their caregivers were offered airline tickets at discounted rates.

The Company provided a promotional advertising campaign for Run for Help, a charity run that raises money to help children with cancer.

After the fire in Kemerovo, Aeroflot temporarily froze ticket prices for flights between Kemerovo and Moscow, offering economy class tickets at minimum rates. Aeroflot also arranged for free flights to Moscow for families of victims of the Kerch college massacre.

Annual Victory Day campaign

For the celebrations of the 73rd anniversary of Victory Day, Aeroflot once again organised a campaign for veterans of the Great Patriotic War (WWII) from 3 to 12 May 2018. Aeroflot was the first Russian carrier to start the tradition of offering free flights to Great Patriotic War veterans back in 2001. About 80 thousand veterans have benefited from the campaign since its launch.

Aeroflot’s subsidiary Rossiya actively participated in memorial events to commemorate the lifting of the Siege of Leningrad, including visits to the Russia – My History historical park and other guided tours. In commemoration of Victory Day, Great Patriotic War veterans also received financial aid.

Charitable support for the Great Patriotic War veterans among retired Aeroflot employees

Aeroflot provides monthly food packages to its retired employees who took part in the Great Patriotic War. A total of RUB 8.7 million went towards veteran food packages in 2018.

Support for passengers in urgent need of reaching their destination due to extraordinary circumstances

Aeroflot provides support to passengers in urgent need of reaching their destination due to extraordinary circumstances. The programme covers higher-demand domestic flights in which the least expensive economy booking classes have been sold out.

Cultural and social development

Aeroflot collaborated with Sheremetyevo International Airport to hold International Children’s Day events for young passengers. Aeroflot and Sheremetyevo participated in Russia’s Night of Museums: the Aeroflot Museum and the History Museum of Sheremetyevo organised an exciting event for aviation enthusiasts of all ages.

The Company also continued providing support to ROSKINO film production company, which aims to promote Russian films across international film festivals. In 2018, Aeroflot also provided support to Together Against Corruption international youth initiative held by the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation.

Aeroflot’s subsidiary airlines also run social development and charity projects in the regions where they operate. For example, Aurora participated in the Wings of Sakhalin aviation and music festival in 2018, as well as town parades to celebrate Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Artyom town days. Also, guided tours to the local airport were organised for airline employees’ children and students of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk schools, whereby the children had a chance to visit a number of aircraft.