Thursday, August 29, 2024 As a result, the Sukhoi Superjet 100 now plays a critical role in connecting Russia’s two largest cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg, a distance of less than 340 nautical miles (630 km). While the SSJ100 is typically utilized for domestic routes, its reach extends beyond, as evidenced by past operations such as a two-hour overnight flight from Oslo to Moscow Sheremetyevo.
The frequency of SSJ100 flights between Moscow and St. Petersburg has increased dramatically, reflecting the aircraft’s growing importance. Rossiya Airlines, a subsidiary of the Aeroflot Group, predominantly operates these flights using a two-class configuration with 87 seats, rather than the all-economy 100-seat variant.
This choice helps mitigate the capacity shortfall caused by sanctions limiting access to Western aircraft. In August 2019, prior to the conflict, the SSJ100 accounted for just 45 one-way flights on the Moscow-St. Petersburg route, representing only 2.
6% of total services, according to OAG data. By August 2021, this had increased to 121 flights (7.4%), highlighting a growing reliance on the SSJ100 even before the war’s impact fully materialized.
The numbers soared following the onset of the Ukraine war. In August 2022, just months after the conflict began and as Russian airlines started dismantling Western aircraft for spare parts, the SSJ100 operated 317 one-way flights (16.5%).
By August 2023, this number had climbed to 865 flights (44.9%), meaning nearly half of all flights between the two cities were operated by the SSJ100. A significant milestone was reached in June 2024, with the introduction of an intensive shuttle service.
As a result, by August 2024, the SSJ100 operated a staggering 2,105 one-way flights, making up 83% of all services on this route. In August 2024, the daily frequency of SSJ100 flights ranged from 67 to 69 each way, with similar figures expected for September. This surge demonstrates the extensive use of the SSJ100, with multiple departures scheduled around the clock.
On September 5, for example, the first flights from Moscow’s main airports to St. Petersburg are scheduled at 00:30, with the final departure at 23:55. This high-frequency service underscores the SSJ100’s pivotal role in sustaining Russia’s domestic air connectivity amidst the challenges posed by sanctions.
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