Lufthansa has joined the stampede to Moscow”s Domodedovo Airport in Moscow as a queue of carriers opts to leave Sheremetyevo.
Despite a wash and brush up, Sheremetyevo is still regarded by many passengers as a difficult and frustrating airport to pass through, compared to its shiny new cousin, 37km (23mi) south east of the city.
Russian immigration can be challenging at the best of times, but passing through Domodedovo appears to be far smoother than Sheremetyevo.
The German airline”s move in the summer of next year, also means that all Star Alliance members serving Moscow, namely Swiss, Austrian, bmi, Singapore Airlines, Spanair and Thai Airways, will now operate from Domodedovo.
Handling some 15m passengers per year, Domodedovo is the largest airport in eastern Europe and has also become a hub for Russian and central Asian destinations, with 74 airlines now using the airport to 220 destinations worldwide.
”By shifting our operations to Domodedovo, we will once again to be able to work with our partners under one roof and offer our passengers a standardised service,” said Lufthansa CEO and chairman, Wolfgang Mayrhuber.
”Furthermore, the planned extension of Domodedovo will open up new perspectives in one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide.”
Lufthansa is now a significant player in the CIS market, currently offering 200 direct weekly services to Germany.
British Airways moved its flights to Domodedovo from Sheremetyevo in 2003.