The Ministry of Economic Development expects a 7.6 percent decline in passenger traffic on air transport in the current year, according to the clarification to the updated forecast of socioeconomic development of Russia.

      “With an allowance for the macroeconomic situation characterized by a significant weakening of the national currency, and, correspondingly, a decline in real incomes, the growth of costs of leasing aircrafts, a decrease in passenger traffic on air transport in forecasted for 2015” - the document says.

      During last year the volume of air transportations in Russia increased by 10.2 percent - up to 93.18 million people. This indicator was lower than in previous years, when the market steadily grew by 15 percent. According to the Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov, the market will be reduced in proportion to GDP in 2015, with means it may fall by 3-4 percent.