Krasnoyarsk International Airport is seeking to extend its network to more than 100 destinations over the next three years, providing a link between Europe and Asia. Chief executive Andrey Metsler outlines the airport’s recent successes and how its latest infrastructure developments will help it to keep pace with demand.
Where is Krasnoyarsk International Airport (KJA)?
Krasnoyarsk International Airport is located in Siberia, at the heart of the Russian Federation. Due to its strategic location at the crossroad of Europe and Asia, we have the potential to develop passenger and cargo transfer traffic, connecting the two continents. The shortest sky connections from Europe to South Asia and from South Asia to North America actually run through KJA.
When it comes to technical features, KJA airport is allowed to handle any type of Russian and foreign aircraft, and serves as the reserve airdrome responding to the ETOPS standards in case of emergency.
How is the airport performing in 2017?
Connecting more than 27 regional and international airlines serving more than 56 destinations in Russia, Europe and Asia, KJA’s passenger traffic amounted to in excess of 1.8 million passengers in 2016, and keeps on increasing by about 30 percent each year.
The figures for the first half of 2017 show that Krasnoyarsk entered the top 15 leading Russian airports for passenger traffic and the top five when it comes to the fastest growth in passenger traffic. KJA also is the fastest growing and most dynamic airport in Siberia and the far east of Russia, with the forecast for 2017 PAX reaching 2.1 million.
What are your route development targets?
The plan for 2020 consists of extending the route network up to more than 100 destinations and become a hub in the region for the smooth and efficient transfer between Europe and Asia. Shanghai, Seoul, Hong Kong, Paris, Munich and Helsinki are among the destinations on our strategic routes list. To achieve these goals, we have implemented tailor-made marketing support and an incentive program for the airlines that wish to operate those destinations with us.
Krasnoyarsk's route network (Q3 2017):
How will your new terminal building improve the airport?
When it opens in December 2017, the new terminal will allow us to increase capacity to more than five million per year and improve the quality of service for the passengers. This will provide great opportunities to the airport and its partners in terms of extension of the route network to other national and international markets.
The new terminal is 58,000 sq m and integrates six boarding bridges adapted for serving any type of aircrafts, as well as 21 lifts and four escalators. Furthermore, in order to provide security for our passengers, the airport will apply the five steps baggage handling system.
Domestic and international flights will operate from the new terminal. For this very reason, the airport navigation system is configured in Russian, English and Chinese. Thanks to such infrastructure, the new terminal will be one of the most modern and technological-advanced terminals in the Russian Federation.
Is Krasnoyarsk equipped to handle cargo traffic?
Our cargo terminal has all the necessary infrastructure to operate a cargo hub model, including six parking places for B 747-800 and B 747 -400 aircrafts in the vicinity of the cargo terminal. The unique tail-to-tail procedure allows us to minimise the time and cost of cargo handling. Its total capacity is up to 55,000 tonnes per year.
In addition, Krasnoyarsk has the largest hangar complex in the eastern part of the Russian Federation with a total area of 11,600 sq m and the capacity to allocate three widebody aircrafts in two sections.
What is the touristic potential of Krasnoyarsk and the wider region?
Krasnoyarsk and its region offer a wide range of adventure and cultural activities, including hiking, sailing, skiing, fishing and sleigh riding. Leisure tourists could also enjoy one of the many theatre performances or visit a former home of Lenin. Visitors should also experience a Siberian sauna and taste the regional cuisine.
Top five things to do in Krasnoyarsk:
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Hiking or sightseeing at The Pillars, the ecological reserve located 10 km south of Krasnoyarsk and accessible by public transport.
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Artic tours – experience the aurora borealis from the Putorana Plateau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Dikson, one of the northernmost urban localities on earth.
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Eco tourism – the natural park Ergaki is the pearl of Siberia and a paradise for travellers who love to hike into the wild.
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Red tourism – besides visiting Lenin’s home, where he lived for three years in exile, tourists will have a chance to have an insight of the Siberian lifestyle of the 19th century.
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The Siberian World summer music festival – there are more than 100 artists from all over the world who will amaze the public with their dancing, singing and folklore during the three days of the festival.
In addition, Winter Universiade 2019 will be held in Krasnoyarsk from the 2nd to the 12th of March 2019. More than 3,050 young sportsmen and women from 50 countries will participate, watched by in excess of 17,000 spectators.
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