Aeroflot

is the flag carrier and largest airline of Russia, and one of the oldest airlines in the world. Its roots reach back to March 1923, when the Soviet Union established Dobrolyot, the country's first significant civil aviation organization, which began regular service using Junkers F-13 aircraft. In 1932 the Soviet civil air fleet was reorganized and adopted the name Aeroflot, becoming a vast state monopoly. During the Soviet era Aeroflot grew into the largest airline in the world, operating an enormous domestic and international network and serving as a symbol of Soviet aviation and prestige.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Aeroflot was reorganized and the once-monolithic carrier fragmented as numerous independent regional airlines emerged from its operations. The restructured company, based in Moscow, modernized its fleet with Western and Russian aircraft and rebuilt itself as Russia's principal international carrier. In 2006 Aeroflot joined the SkyTeam global airline alliance. In subsequent years the airline faced significant disruption, including sanctions and the suspension of many international routes following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which sharply curtailed its overseas operations while it remained dominant within Russia.