In May 2023, Russia saw a notable rise in economy class airfares, climbing by about 28 percent from May 2022 to an average of roughly RUB 6,972 per 1,000 kilometers. Rosstat provides this per‑thousand‑kilometer figure, marking the highest level since 2000, when comparable data first became available. The previous peak stood at 6,892.51 rubles, recorded 13 years earlier in August 2010. Across the first five months of 2023, airfares increased by about 32 percent, though opinions differ on the accuracy of these numbers.
balance of interest
Data from the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), processed by the Ministry of Transport, show that the rise in economy class ticket prices since January 2023 outpaced the Bank of Russia inflation forecast for the year, which projects growth in the 4.5 to 6.5 percent range. The Ministry of Finance, however, has not received suggestions to fix or reduce ticket prices. According to the same FAS data, April 2023 saw the weighted average price of an air ticket in Russia rise by 4 percent versus April 2022. The Ministry of Transport, however, reported that May prices averaged 3 percent lower than April, noting a drop of about 265 rubles thanks to discounts and promotions.
Meanwhile, ticket prices continue to rise in some sectors. In May 2019, prior to the pandemic, a 1,000-kilometer flight could be purchased for around 5,500 rubles. That figure was 27 percent cheaper than 2023 but still higher than 2022. Oleg Panteleev, general manager of Aviaport, explains that the industry faced significant cost pressures during 2020–2022 as the ruble fluctuated, fuel costs increased, aircraft ownership costs rose, airport services and air navigation costs climbed, and staff salaries grew. He notes that airlines have been slow to pass on additional costs to passengers, a pattern driven by the pandemic and price sensitivity among travelers. The sector benefited from substantial state support in 2022, receiving over 170 billion rubles, which helped cover losses without major tariff hikes. Only in 2023 did aviation begin to adjust to new cost realities by shifting more of the burden onto customers.
at the end of the list
Are price increases truly objective? A broader look at aviation-related sectors helps answer that. Oleg Panteleev points out that in May 2023, compared with May 2019, most train fares and sanatorium holidays rose by about 29 percent, while taxi prices increased around 29 percent as well. Air carriage prices sit lower, with Rosstat placing them up 26.6 percent and the Ministry of Transport and the FAS reporting about a 4 percent rise. Many travelers are also watching costs for holidays in Turkey. The Russian Association of Tour Operators notes that pre-pandemic holiday prices in Turkey rose by 70–90 percent, reducing the number of Russian travelers by roughly one third. A typical 10-night summer trip to Turkey now costs around 100–115 thousand rubles per person, compared with 50–60 thousand rubles in 2019. The price dynamics are largely driven by exchange rates and hotel rates rather than airline pricing.
Is it really that expensive? Looking at wage trends helps; Rosstat data show average nominal monthly salaries in 2019 around 47,867 rubles, rising to about 65,340 in 2022, and reaching roughly 71,204 rubles by April 2023. The cumulative wage growth from 2019 to 2023 outpaced the growth in air travel prices, suggesting that air transport is becoming more affordable for many Russians overall. This framework helps explain the observed rise in passenger volumes despite higher fares.
flew
Passenger traffic growth supports this trend. In the first five months of 2023, Russia saw a 21 percent increase in passenger traffic compared with the previous year. May alone saw 2.75 million travelers on domestic routes, with year-on-year gains approaching 30 percent. The Federal Air Transport Agency attributes this to a stronger economy, rising demand for air travel, an expanding domestic aviation market with more regular and charter services, and a broader international network for Russian airlines as flights to certain destinations resumed after pandemic restrictions. Overall projections for 2023 estimate domestic passenger volumes around 81.9 million, modestly higher than last year. While fares have risen, the growth in demand continues to outpace the rate of price increases in many cases, signaling a robust but evolving market for air travel.