Over 33 million travelers have been transported by Russian airlines.

In the summer of 2025, Russian aviation is experiencing a surge in activity, marking the peak of the vacation season. Amidst this bustling atmosphere, the head of Rosaviatsiya, Dmitry Yadrov, has reported the development of an action plan in response to recent drone attacks at airports.

According to Yadrov, the action plan includes changes in the interaction between the military and civilian sectors and an increase in interaction with alternative transport modes. However, no new short-term flight restrictions have been announced in Moscow's aviation hub, Pulkovo, or any other cities in Russia, as of early August.

Last year, Russian airlines transported a total of 111.7 million passengers. Initially, Yadrov predicted a decrease to 109.7 million passengers for 2025, but due to the restoration of aircraft that had been lost in 2022-2023, the forecast has been revised. The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Transport in Russia, Vladimir Poteshkin, confirmed that the forecast for the passenger traffic of Russian airlines in 2025 remains at the level of last year's indicator.

One of the carriers that saw significant growth is Aeroflot. In the first half of 2025, Aeroflot transported 25.9 million passengers, representing an almost 2% increase. The seat load factor for Russian airlines in the same period was 88.6%. The highest occupancy rates were recorded by "Smartavia" (96.1%), "Pobeda" (94.6%), and S7 (93.6%).

The summer period is a time of high-intensity flights, and unfortunately, this year has seen short-term flight restrictions in Pulkovo and several other cities in Russia. Despite these disruptions, no new drone attacks in airports have been reported, as of early August.

It's worth noting that the search results do not provide specific information about the Russian airlines that carried the most passengers in the first half of 2025. However, it is clear that the restoration of aircraft that had been lost in the previous years is a significant factor contributing to the revised forecast for the passenger traffic of Russian airlines in 2025.

As for the mechanism for sending aircraft to backup airfields to reduce infrastructure load, it has been changed, but no new changes or action plans have been reported in this regard, as of early August.

In conclusion, while the summer of 2025 presents challenges for Russian aviation, with increased passenger traffic and ongoing safety concerns, the industry is adapting and responding effectively, ensuring the smooth operation of flights for millions of passengers.