| The airport has focused on the reconstruction of existing terminals The Sheremetyevo administration, which ceded control over the construction of a new (third) terminal at the country's main airport to Aeroflot, intends to carry out a large-scale reconstruction of the other two terminals, as well as the entire airfield infrastructure. Moreover, the 100 percent state-owned OJSC Sheremetyevo International Airport (SIA) expects to finance part of this work from its own funds, and the other part through large-scale budget injections promised by Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin. True, as SIA General Director Mikhail Vasilenko admitted, sources of financing for several key facilities have not yet been found. However, he stated that the reconstruction of the two existing terminals should be completed by the same date that Sheremetyevo-3 is expected to be commissioned, that is, by the end of 2007.
At the presentation of long-term plans for the development of SIA, organized as part of the international air show MAKS-2005, which ended yesterday, the general director of the airport said that reconstruction will begin with the construction of a new building next to the Sheremeetvo-1 terminal. This facility, worth $76.5 million, will increase the capacity of the first terminal, from where regular flights throughout Russia and neighboring countries, as well as charters, now depart to 5 million people per year. The expansion of the first terminal should be completed in 2006, especially since, as Mr. Vasilenko said, SIA already has its own funds sufficient to implement this part of the project.
In the future, the updated Sheremeetvo-1 should “insure” the reconstruction of the second terminal, taking over the servicing of part of the flights departing from there to non-CIS countries. After reconstruction, the throughput capacity of Sheremeetva-2 will increase to 18 million people per year. As is known, after the commissioning of the second international terminal in 1980, the total capacity was estimated at 9 million people. But now he is working beyond his capabilities. Last year, almost 12.9 million passengers passed through it. The general director of the airport said that during the reconstruction the second terminal will acquire a special extension connecting it with the projected Sheremetvo-3 terminal. The reconstruction of the second terminal is estimated at $310.8 million. Mr. Vasilenko did not want to say where this money will come from, explaining that negotiations with potential investors have not yet ended.
Aeroflot, which is overseeing the third terminal project, hopes to see it completed by the end of 2007, but announced deadlines for the project have been missed several times in the past. During the MAKS-2005 air show, Aeroflot signed a protocol of understanding with Vneshtorgbank regarding the bank's future acquisition of 25% plus one share of Terminal OJSC - now a 100% subsidiary of the airline created for the construction of Sheremetyevo-3. Since Sberbank is also vying for participation in the project, SIA, obviously, will not be able to count on anything more than a blocking stake in the third terminal (now there is an agreement between SIA and Aeroflot to sell the airport 25% plus one share of Terminal OJSC ). Nevertheless, Mr. Vasilenko emphasized that the projects relating to all three terminals, existing and planned, form a single whole. Sheremetyevo-3 is estimated at $500 million and will be able to handle 9 million passengers per year. It is expected to serve flights of Aeroflot and member companies of the Sky Team alliance, which the Russian national carrier plans to join in the near future.
By the same date (the end of 2007), it is planned to take two more steps towards modernizing the country's main air harbor: connecting a railway there and expanding the runways. Significant budget infusions have been promised for runways and air navigation equipment. During the show, Transport Minister Igor Levitin said that in the next three years the budget plans to allocate $1.5-2 billion for the development of Sheremetyevo infrastructure (that is, for the very runways and devices that provide take-off and landing). However, even up to 1 billion dollars, he said, must be raised for the same purposes from extra-budgetary sources.
MASH intends to move its city passenger service center to Savelovsky Station. Negotiations on financing a railway line from there to the airport are still ongoing, Mr. Vasilenko said. Mikhail KUKUSHKIN |
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