Travelers on their way to Moscow airports will have to shell out more rubles for rides aboard Aeroexpress trains, as inflation seeps its way into the Russian economy after the ruble's astonishing 50 percent decline in value since last summer, the company said in a statement published online Tuesday.
Starting on Jan. 15, fares on Aeroexpress trains to Moscow's Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports will rise by 50 rubles ($0.80) to 450 rubles ($6.80) for standard-class seating, the statement said. Meanwhile, prices for a one-way business-class seat on Aeroexpress has jumped from 900 rubles ($13.70) to 1,000 rubles ($15.20).
Aeroexpress last raised its prices in May of last year, when prices jumped by 17 percent to 400 rubles ($6), resulting in a 22.5 percent increase in revenue for Aeroexpress and a net profit of 1 billion rubles ($15.2 million), according to business newspaper Vedomosti.
Aeroexpress commercial director Rustam Akiniazov was quoted in the company's statement as saying the second fare hike in less than a year was forced by last year's 11.4 percent inflation rate and operating cost increases.
Aeroexpress is not alone in raising ticket prices. In December, Moscow Transportation Department deputy head Alina Bisembayeva was quoted by state news agency RIA Novosti as saying the price of a single-entry ticket into the Moscow metro will rise from 40 rubles to 50 on Feb. 1.