Aeroflot expects 1994 profits to fall below last year's $190 million due to a series of domestic air disasters and stiff international competition, officials said Thursday.


Although a final figure for 1994 profits will be known at the start of January, Aeroflot's 1994 freight and passenger turnover will be 3.1 million passengers and 70,000 tons of cargo, the same as in 1993, said Aeroflot commercial director Pavel Rozhkov.


Data from the International Civil Aviation Organization show Aeroflot and British Airways were the only airlines in the world that reported profits in 1993. But Aeroflot, which serves 103 countries, is fighting an increasingly tough battle against foreign airlines keen to take advantage of new commercial opportunities in Russia.


"Competition on the internal market from foreign companies is constantly forcing us to cut prices," Rozhkov said.