Constructing and putting the new passenger terminal of Kurumoch International Airport into operation is the first project implemented in the network of preparation of a transport infrastructure for 2018 FIFA World Cup. The project was implemented in cooperation with the Russian Ministry of Transport, Government of Samara Region and Renova Group (Airports of Regions Company); it is the example of efficient public-private partnership.
Today Kurumoch International Airport is one of Russia’s ten largest airports. Its passenger traffic for 2014 was 2,377,418 passengers (+9,7% year-on-year). Over 29 000 takeoff and landing operations were performed (+8,5% compared to 2013). The airports cargo traffic for 2014 was 4,326 tons. In 2014 the airport serviced 81 destinations (over half of them are international ones).
Kurumoch airport is managed by Airports of Regions Holding Company, whose strategic investor is Renova Group. The investor believes that this is the most promising airport in Povolzhye. Construction of the new terminal was started in July 2013 and was completed on December 24th 2014. Private investments in this project amounted to more than 8 billion rubles. The area of this new passenger terminal is 42,6 thousand square meters (four times as large as the previous terminal’s area). Design of the building allows expanding it on both sides to a total area of 60 thousand square meters without interrupting the activities of the terminal.
Now Kurumoch is the only airport in Privolzhsky Federal District to have seven air bridges (two double ones and three single ones). They are connected with the terminal finger on the second floor. Double air bridges may service one wide-body aircraft (Category E) or two single-aisle aircraft (Category C) simultaneously. In addition, the terminal building has six exits to apron buses. Such traffic management inside the terminal allows boarding passengers on 12 aircraft at a time. New terminal is fitted with 24 check-in counters. Its total capacity is over 1400 passengers per hour. Thus the upgraded Kurumoch will be able to service 3,5 million passengers annually.
Tens of infrastructure facilities were built in the network of this project, including all the necessary utility networks, access roads, new cargo facilities and parking having a capacity of 1400 parking slots. The new cargo facilities have a total area of 5,4 thousand square meters; it is a two-storey building with administrative offices and parking area for private and cargo transport. The cargo facilities, as well as the new passenger terminal, were constructed under an investment agreement with the Government of Samara Region. It will be put into operation in spring 2015. The cargo terminal has a storage area with adjustable temperature, temporary storage warehouses for dangerous and valuable cargo as well as animal relief areas. The cargo terminal’s capacity is 150 tons per hour.
Kurumoch airport has two runways located almost at a right angle to each other and equipped with ICAO Category I advanced instrument landing systems (ILS) on all the approach directions: IVPP-1 (in operation) 2556x60 and IVPP-2 (under reconstruction) 3001x45. The airfield has parking slots for 50 aircraft. “Reconstruction and upgrade of Samara-based Kurumoch International Airport” project is being implemented in the network of the Federal Target Program “Development of Transport System of Russia (2010 - 2020)”. State customer – Federal Air Transport Agency, Construction Management Company – FSUE Administratsiya grazhdanskikh aeroportov (aerodromov) (stands for Administration of civil airports (airfields)).
The following works have been completed in the network of implementation of the project for reconstruction of the airfield: IVPP-1 and IVPP-2 have been reinforced with asphalt concrete, IVPP-2 has been fitted with ICAO Category III lighting facilities; taxiways have been reinforced, cargo apron and waste treatment facilities have been constructed, a site for treatment of aircraft with anti-icing fluid has been constructed. In addition, in the network of the Federal Target Program “Development of Transport System of Russia (2010 - 2020)” IVPP-2 should be fitted with air traffic control and weather information facilities, patrol road and fence should be constructed, search-and-rescue station No.2 will be constructed, eastern apron will be reconstructed and IVPP-2 with its taxiways will be put into operation.
All the works in the network of the airport reconstruction will be completed in 2017. During his visit to the airport Chairman of the Russian Government Dmitry Medvedev together with the management team of the airport and Russian Minister of Transport Maxim Sokolov discussed the possibility of constructing a railroad for nonstop trains connecting Kurumoch with Tolyatti and Samara. Sokolov said that this project will cost around 5 billion rubles and the funds must be raised by Russian Railways Company. The prime minister promised to consider the matter.
The governor of Samara Region Nikolai Merkushkin said that Samara needs its own strong airline. The possibility of consolidating Air Samara with another carrier and involvement of an investor is being considered. In this case Air Samara will have more opportunities for operating regular and charter flights. In case the decision is made Kurumoch will become the carrier’s base airport. Moreover, an MRO center may be constructed here to service the carrier’s fleet.
Airports of Regions Holding Company is the Russia’s largest company in its segment, which is implementing projects with amount of private investments of more than 30 billion rubles. Today the holding company comprises the following airports: Koltsovo (Yekaterinburg), Kurumoch International Airport (Samara), Nizhny Novgorod International Airport (Strigino) and Rostov-on-Don Airport. The total passenger traffic of these airports for 2014 reached 10,377,461 passengers (+8,5% year-on-year). Moreover, Airports of Regions Managing Company is implementing projects for construction of new airports: Yuzhny (Rostov-on-Don) and Tsentralny (Saratov).
In the network of public-private partnership Airports of Regions Managing Company is implementing large investment programs in all the airports: a new high-tech infrastructure is being constructed – passenger and cargo terminals, airport hotels, production and transport facilities. Russian and foreign carriers are being attracted to the airports; the route network is being expanded. The common corporate governance standards are being implemented, operating and technological processes are being optimized paving the way for successful development of aviation business and air transportation in Russian Federation.
Airports of Regions Managing Company is the only Group of airports focused on developing and subsidizing regional aviation. In 2012 the company was awarded with World Routes Awards prize for efficient cooperation with air carriers. The further development of the holding company is connected with purchasing large regional airports having a huge potential for development as well as assumption of financial liabilities connected with upgrade of the airports’ infrastructure.
AVIA.RU website would like to thank the Kurumoch airport’s press-service and Airports of Regions Managing Company for helping in preparation of this article and giving a tour of the new terminal.
