- Nikita Sergeyevich, as we know, the project of the airport was chosen by competition. Why have you chosen exactly this project?

- I would like to draw your attention that only a sketch of the airport complex is currently chosen. In the meeting protocol of the design working group, there have been general agreement of the parties on the chosen scheme of the master plan, floor layout and architectural solutions, the scheme of arrangement of aircrafts on the apron. The group included the representatives of government agencies that provide checkpoints across the state border, also all enterprises engaged in passenger service activities at the airport. This concept was approved in early July and, in my opinion, has turned quite well. Now designers have "gone into" the future of the building and by September they will be ready to submit a draft with Main State Expert Review Board in Russia. The development of the project documentation of the new airport complex has been made by the institution of Krasaeroproekt. We are planning to complete the development of the project plan by the end of 2016. Only then we can talk about the presence of the new project of the terminal.

Seven design organisations showed interest in the contest. Even before the beginning of the competition some applicants offered some options of a new terminal building and decisions of the airport complex. The Master Plan was almost the same in all cases for all participants of the contest, but the appearance of the building was completely different. The winner, which is currently developing the project, had three different versions: one - a low-budget, simple and nondescript, and the other - a bright, expensive, but difficult to fulfil, given the design decisions that are difficult to implement in our weather conditions, with high seismic activity. Finally, we chose an option that was combined in the best possible way from all designers’ offers, a recognisable concept, according to which it will be possible to allocate our airport among others, including among domestic and world-class airports in the future.

- I suppose the working group members expressed wishes and were offering certain aspects of their activities at the airport in the process of discussing sketches. What changes were made to the original sketch by the proposed developer?

- Yes, in the original sketch of floor-by-floor distribution of objects in the terminal building and on the master plan given by the designers, were made some comments, which related to the placement and layout of the interior, also some of the changes were technological in terms of operating organisations. We have a dedicated team of professionals and experts evaluating the project proposals which we offer the developer. Each member of the group gives suggestions, taking into account the requirements of their company. Most of the comments and suggestions were made from the companies which are working with passengers. There were in terms of creating comfortable conditions for passengers and fast baggage handling. This is logical. And it is important not only for passengers but also for the airport staff.

There were a number of significant observations on increased mobility, flexibility in terms of avant-platform, where the aircrafts are placed, where are suitable jetways, in terms of enhancing the versatility. For example, it is important that at the same parking can be placed for a single large aircraft and for two small as well so they need to be serviced simultaneously, each of them should have its own jet bridge. The wishes of based in the airport Aurora airline were taken into account for the servicing of Dash-8 aircrafts, and also a special jet bridge for servicing such aircraft is laid in this project. In case of intensive development of domestic flights and intensive development of regional airlines such airbridges will be installed additionally.

Experts who have made the corrections also were focused on the cost of the optimisation already in terms of operating terminal, so the comments that have been made, in addition to the convenience for the passengers and the staff, concern energy saving and automation of processes. The government of the region, members of the working group made proposals to increase space for the catering zones, for children's playroom in the air terminal. This is connected with winter flight delays because of weather conditions - the usual phenomenon for Sakhalin. There can be a lot of people in the airport and it is necessary that they feel comfortably sitting in a chair or standing, if you do not have enough space. It is crucial that both adults and children comfortably spend time before the departure of the flight.

- I think the reconstruction is going to touch the forecourt and surrounding areas. How is going to be arranged the transportation to the airport?

- At the entrance of the airport the developer is offering to make a circular movement near the ​​gas stations. This will improve the movement scheme, simplify and speed up cars for mass flows while entering and leaving the territory of the forecourt. The project provides a one-lane, two-lane traffic under the canopy along the southern facade of the terminal building on the leeward side, which is going to protect the passengers from the cold northern winds, rain and snow. Passengers will also be moving under these sheds.

There will be enough space for vehicles, both in the open and in the multi-store car park. It’s mad this way so that you can leave your car every close to the terminal building, and even fly, and when arriving, just to pass under the shed and return to the car and leave in comfort. This is long-overdue decision because it is winter in Sakhalin for six months. Today leaving your car for the time of travel in winter means arrival to the snowdrift which was your transport before the departure so you have clear your way through the snow.

- What is the approximate cost of the project?

- The approximate cost was calculated by comparison with analogues even before the announcement of the competition and is 3 billion rubles. The exact price will be determined on the basis of the design at the end of this year. Immediately, I note that, after the preparation of project and budget documentation it will pass the Main State Expert Review Board inspection and will be carefully analysed by the working team with experts of the regional government, so there is no sign of the inclrease in the cost of construction.

- What will happen to the current terminal building after the commissioning of the new terminal? Is it going to be dismantled, rebuilt, or will it also serve passengers?

- The buildings will be located next to each other, since we have enough territory. The old building will be used as a service building for offices of both the airport and the companies based at the airport after the commissioning of the new terminal.

- Many say that Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands have a huge tourist potential. The tourism infrastructure is developing in the region. Will a new terminal increase both domestic and international tourist traffic at Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk airport?

- Yes, of course, it became clear at the stage of discussion of future areas of registration and baggage reclaim.  The number of check-in counters will be increased by 3 times, so you can dropp-off or receive oversized luggage such as skis and snowboards. Especially it is made for the passengers who, we hope, as tourists are going to come to ride the Mountain Air. There is a program of development of the ski resort, and we expect to increase the traffic of tourists in winter. For us it is important to ensure comfortable movement of people throughout the supply chain from the airport to the hotel and parking, which is designed for 150 cars in the 3 stars class. The project has a sufficient capacity for the international airlines as well – 250 passengers per hour. It is a standard indicator for servicing of the biggest aircraft which we expect to accept. If there are going to be two such planes, then holding time will be two hours that is quite acceptable as well.

- In spite of all these plans it is impossible to be blind to the transformations that take place in the existing terminal building ...

- We began this work last year with the commissioning of the new luggage terminal, with the area of ​​the hall four times bigger than the former one, where passengers had to stand in three or four rows, only to see the suitcase on the conveyor belt. Recently we increased the number of check-in counters. Previously, there were six, now - eight. Moreover, they were less automated, there was no possibility of their interchangeability. Sometimes it created uncomfortable conditions and caused criticism from passengers. Now we united all our check-in counters in one complex of registration and registration of passengers' luggage, automated everything behind the counters and hidden from prying eyes. In particular, we purchased new equipment that allows faster processing of luggage, so we can serve more passengers per unit of time. In addition  there is a check-in counter for handicapped passengers- it is lower than standard and allows allows to conduct service of wheelchair invalids. For the summer season at the entrance to the airport terminal there was equipped a a second security checkpoint designed to accelerate passing the controls in hours of peak loadings.

Our immediate plan is the equipment the first floor of the terminal with the bathrooms for people with disabilities and opening the additional offices of airlines. In particular, the Aeroflot requests to equip the cashier on the first floor, so the passengers could quickly pay extra for the excess baggage and stop making runs around the terminal building in search of the little window to pay. In addition, due to the liberated areas of the old luggage building, we are expanding storage area for economy class passengers of domestic flights twice. Here, instead of the buffet will be  decent cafes, and the place will become generally more comfortable. This work is already underway and is scheduled to be completed in November.

I would like to draw the attention of skeptics who mourn the fact that it is a useless job, they say, the new building is not far. But! ... We will get the new terminal at least in three years but we have to fly now. Whether we like it or not, but at least for another three years, passengers will be served in an old building. And my goal is to do everything to the residents and guests of the Sakhalin region so they could receive the full range of necessary services in the existing building. Now we are focused on the improving the quality. Recently we completed work on the expansion and reconstruction of the business lounge. This service is in demand and is popular.

- Nikita Sergeevich, very soon Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk airport will become "head office" of Sakhalin and the Kuril airports. What caused this decision and when is this merge going to happen?

- This decision was dictated by life itself. Also such task was set by Sakhalin Region Governor Oleg Kozhemyako. He quickly understood the situation with airports so separately small Sakhalin and the Kuril airports cannot develop in full. In the first stage the aviation enterprises of Sakhalin island will merge by the end of this year. From north to south: Okha, Nogliki, Zonalnoye, Shahtersk and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The merge will be held on the basis of existing JSC Airport Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk by acceding to the branches. Meaning that all of these small airports will be our affiliates. Then, at the second stage in this new venture will be included a large airport of Kuril islands. They are Yasny (Iturup island) and Mendeleev (Kunashir island). The goal is that the Government of the Sakhalin region pursues while moving us in this direction - is to improve the quality of passenger service and most importantly, providing regular air service of the regional centre to remote areas of the region. Already, we have strengthened the cooperation with all airports in Sakhalin and the Kuril. Over the past six months we have been working on the study of their structure, the current state of business, financing, economic support. In close cooperation with the heads of these companies we are building a long-term plans, analysing, what we can do in terms of implementation established solutions.