MOSCOW, October 18 (RIA Novosti) - Aeroflot Russian Airlines [RTS: AFLT] increased passenger traffic in January-September 2006 by 6.5% year-on-year to 5.529 million people, the country's largest air carrier said Wednesday.
The percentage of seats filled during the period was 71.4%, up 1.8% on last year.
Airborne hours for the company's passenger planes increased 3.3% in the reporting period, and declined by 1.7% for cargo planes. Overall flying time gained 3% year-on-year.
Aeroflot, founded in 1923, accounts for 39% of Russia's international air traffic, and 11% of domestic flights. Its net profit in 2005 was 6.032 billion rubles ($224 million)