At the beginning of a decade the state has made the decision on construction of the new airport to Rostov-on-Don. The old airport couldn’t compete with modern ideas of the large transport hub anymore and had restrictions on the infrastructure developments. The airport complex has to become the largest air hub in the south of Russia. The capacity of the airport will be 5 million people a year. In the long term it is expected that the passenger traffic through the Southern airport will increase up to 12 million people a year.

As I already mentioned, the project is implemented jointly by the state, the region and private investors. And everyone has their own area of ​​responsibility. The state took over the construction of necessary airfield infrastructure, including runway, taxiway, apron, control tower, the main and starting of rescue stations, MTR and other essential systems. Funding for the project is included in the Federal Target Program "Development of Transport System of Russia (2010-2020)". Rostov Region has committed to provide funding and carrying out works on the construction of roads to the new airport, water networks, gas and electricity, sanitation and communication facilities. Private investor should provide funding for the design and construction of ground infrastructure services passengers and airlines of the new airport complex, including: terminal complex, the cargo terminal, in-flight catering shop, parking, etc. The Renova Group acted as the private investor.

On September 23, 2013 the agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, the government of Rostov region and Renova Group was signed concerning the implementation of the investment project «A construction of the Southern airport complex». Earlier, in May, 2012 the government of Rostov region and Renova Group created the joint venture company Rostovaeroinvest which is an investor for the construction of passenger and airline service terrestrial infrastructure.

The order of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 18.12.2014 No. 2615-r determines LLC Transstroymekhanizatsiya as the only contractor for the construction of airfield infrastructure and JSC Rostovaeroinvest as the only performer on the investment part of the object. Also the construction of Southern airport complex (Rostov-on-Don) is included in "The program of preparation for carrying out FIFA World Cup in 2018 in the Russian Federation", approved by the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of 20.06.2013 No. 518. November 1, 2014 on the site of the future Southern airport the symbolical sign – "Zero kilometer of the Rostov air passenger" has been put.

The project involves the construction of a modern airport complex, 29 kilometers from the city of Rostov-on-Don in the Aksai district of Rostov region, 4 km north of the village Grushevskaya. The new airport will replace the existing one, which will be closed in the future and integrated into the urban development.

Operations are carried parallely on all objects of airfield and airport infrastructure. On the airfield there are operations on laying down of branded concrete of the runway, the device of a water drainage network and the platform of future airfield. In addition, there is a preparation area for further construction of the rescue station, the checkpoint and the control tower. Overall dimensions of the runway of the new airport - 3600X45 meters. Its load-bearing capacity will allow to accept all types of the modern mainline aircrafts.

Handling capacity of the passenger terminal with a total area of 50 000 sq.m will make 2000 pass. / hour. or 5 million passengers per year. The cargo terminal of 5600 sq.m (including the office building on 2 000 sq.m) which will be able to process up to 20000 tons of freight a year will be constructed and also the station square and a parking on 2500 cars. The amount of the state investments will be about 18 billion rubles, private – more than 19 billion rubles. By the end of 2015 more than 3 billion rubles of the state money and more than 2 billion rubles of private funds are invested in the project.

In the course of preparatory work in the construction zone archeology monuments were found – more than 69 barrows. The Institute of archeology of RAS with partners excavated all barrows: burials and also valuable historical objects, a part of which are restored at the moment, further they will be transferred to the museums.

The passenger terminal is designed by the winner of the international architectural competition - the British company Twelve Architects & Masterplanner. According to the mentor of the project, the architects working on the design were inspired by the Don River.

The terminal building should be associated with the bridge which is going to connect the city of Rostov-on-Don with other cities and countries that will be realized with the help of the unusual roof structure of the future airport. Furthermore, the use of renewable energy sources is scheduled.

The actual management of the construction of the airport complex is provided through PJSC Rostovaeroinvest by Airports of Regions. It is a managing company in the Renova Group, which specializes in airport management and for several years has been implementing an extensive investment program for the construction and development of international airports in Ekaterinburg (Koltsovo), Samara (Kurumoch), Nizhny Novgorod (Strigino) and Rostov-on- Don. The general contractor for the construction of passenger terminal facilities and service and technical area of ​​the airport complex has been selected Southern Turkish consortium Limak-Marashstroy.

Prior to the beginning of the device of a frame of the passenger terminal builders completed work on the piling and foundation pouring grills. In total more than 3100 piles were hammered into the base of the terminal. Now the individual elements of the new domestic terminal and international lines is already underway the roofing installation of steel structures. On the landing gallery with views onto the platform of the future of the airfield in particular. The left and right side of the three-story gallery of the future terminal which will make the total length of 328 meters took form the form of a reinforced concrete frame and metal structures that support the roof. At the final stage this gallery will be adjoined by 9 t air bridges (including 2 double) on which passengers will get directly on board the aircraft. Thus, the "Wave of the Don" has already gained its own unique features.

Construction works and on other objects are developed at the same time. The construction of monolithic two-storey frame production and domestic buildings, where are going to be located shops, offices, household and utility rooms with total area of ​​2300 sq.m is finished. The steel concrete framework is built and installation of a roof of a warehouse of logistics of 1075 sq.m. is conducted. Different types of civil engineering works are carried out on the administrative and technological complex - the building of a total area of ​​11,900 sq. m, where the main administrative services of the airport operating company and the airline crews will be located, also a warehouse for special vehicles and equipment repair with size of 10 030 sq.m and the building of the state regulatory authorities with a total area of 4 660 sq.m , where boundary and customs services, the FSB, DIA will be placed. Also works on designing the separate VIP-terminal of the airport and fuel-filling complex are continued now.

Currently the construction of the runway, apron, taxings and other facilities of airfield infrastructure involves 236 equipment units and about 900 employees. For the construction of a passenger terminal and other infrastructure of the Southern airport were involved more 900 builders and 50 units of equipment. All activities are performed according to the approved schedule and even in some advance.

Airports of Regions plans to carry out the commissioning of the new airport complex by the end of 2017. And by the beginning of 2018 is planning to complete the program for the FIFA World Cup 2018. During the FIFA World Cup 2018 there has been developed an operational plan, which includes the logistics of the departure-arrival schedule of the championship’s guests. During the FIFA World Cup the capacity of the terminal is going to be increased temporary and also the number of personnel and equipment involved in the servicing of the passengers.