RUSSIAN domestic airline traffic rose by 11% in 2003 according to figures issued by the civil aviation authority. The greatest improvement was by purely regional carrier Sibur, Russia”s number two airline which reported a 26% increase to 3.4m. Aeroflot carried 5.8m pax, up from 5.48 in 2002 and targets 6.8m in 2004. Overall the buoyancy of the market, well above the general growth in Europe, is the improving domestic situation, the end of quotas on popular holiday destinations and the development of regional routes. Other carriers, many virtually unknown in the west, include Pulkovo (2.4m +16.1%), UTAir (1.55m ” same) and KrasAir (1.4m +17%).