Moscow opens new gateway to the rest of the world

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Published time: July 06, 2010 18:13
Edited time: July 27, 2010 10:50

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Prime Time Russia, Russia, Scandal, Vehicles

One of Russia's largest airports, Vnukovo, has welcomed the first passengers to its new terminal.

The terminal is considered a cornerstone of a master plan through 2015, estimated to cost around $1 billion. The airport’s authorities say their target is to service more than 22 million passengers.

On its first day of work, the terminal took in a flight from the Black Sea resort of Anapa. On the July 27, there will be the first departures.

Vnukovo is the oldest airport in Moscow, built in 1941. It used to be a military base. It now aims to become one of the biggest airports, boasting 77 elevators, 60 escalators and 99 registration counters.

“The railway terminal is connected to the airport via an underground station,” Vnukovo project chief architect Leonid Borzhenkov told RT. “It means you don't have to walk across the street to the airport building. You get off the train and you are already inside the airport.”

Some, however, argue that in trying to attract more passengers, the airport is using unfair practices.

Comments (1)

Ian Carisi 26.07.2010 12:57

horrible idea. That airport is under-runwayed. It is like New York LaGuardia. Last time I flew out of there I was delayed by almost 2 hours. People like it because there is less travel time by car to get there, but they pay the price once they get to the airport. The airport has two intersecting runways, but the Air Traffic Controllers do not know how to manage it, so there mine as well be one. They need at least one or two more runways that do not intersect or controllers that know how to manage intersecting runways. And the only reason they give pilots for the delay is "STANDBY" because they can not translate it to English. Nvukovo airport does not have the in fracture in its current configuration to move a high volume of airplanes.

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