Aeroflot

Aeroflot traces its origins to the early Soviet era, with its roots in the 1923 founding of Dobrolyot. Following a series of reorganizations, the entity was officially established as Aeroflot in 1932, serving as the state-owned flag carrier of the Soviet Union. During its formative years, the airline expanded rapidly, connecting vast stretches of the Soviet territory from Leningrad to Vladivostok and becoming a critical component of the nation's infrastructure. By the mid-20th century, it had become one of the largest airlines in the world, operating a diverse fleet that included iconic Soviet-era aircraft like the Lisunov Li-2 and later, the supersonic Tu-144.

Throughout the Cold War, Aeroflot functioned as the primary face of Soviet aviation, maintaining an extensive domestic and international route network. The airline was known for its distinct branding and its role as a state enterprise, eventually becoming the first Russian airline to join the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 1989. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the carrier underwent significant modernization, transitioning from a state-run monopoly to a more commercially oriented entity, joining the SkyTeam alliance in 2006 and incorporating a modern fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

In recent years, Aeroflot has faced significant geopolitical challenges, including international sanctions and a ban from European Union airspace in 2022, which led to the suspension of its SkyTeam membership. Despite these hurdles, the airline continues to operate as the flag carrier of the Russian Federation, maintaining its hub at Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport. Today, the Aeroflot Group remains a major aviation force, overseeing subsidiaries such as Rossiya Airlines and the low-cost carrier Pobeda, while continuing to serve as a central pillar of Russian domestic and international air travel.