OREANDA-NEWS. Aeroflot (Moscow Exchange ticker: AFLT) recorded the second-fastest growth of passenger traffic (RPK, +19.2%) and capacity (ASK, +17.9%) of any European airline in 2013 - well ahead of names such as Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, British Airways and Swiss, and more than treble the respective regional averages of 6% and 5%, according to the annual rating published by Airline Business magazine.

Aeroflot was also the only Russian airline among Europe's five largest carriers by passenger traffic and capacity for the second year running. Aeroflot's passenger traffic in 2013 amounted to 60.2 billion passenger-kilometres, while capacity reached 76.5 billion seat-kilometres (calculated by multiplying the number of seats offered for sale by total flight length).

Aeroflot's management team in 2013 continued delivering on the ambitious strategic goals set for the airline, which recorded a second straight year of dynamic growth while maintaining a focus on cost control and a high level of operational efficiency.

"Aeroflot Group as the leader in the Russian aviation market intends to take its rightful place alongside the major players of the global industry. Our goal is to be among Europe's top five airlines and in the global top 20 by passenger traffic and revenue," Aeroflot CEO Vitaly Saveliev said.