When British Airways announced last autumn that it was moving from Moscow”s run down and decrepit state-operated Sheremetyevo Airport, 20 miles to the north east of the city, to the privately run Domodedovo, 40 miles south of the capital, regular customers were perplexed rather than excited. Surely things could not get better? This was Russia after all, where the long arm of bureaucracy moves very slowly and, whilst free enterprise is now free enterprise, it somehow tends to lack the get up and go of, say, the UK or the US. (In fact, the editor would admit that things are truly getting much better ” the new Hyatt, next door to the Bolshoi Ballet and close by Red Square, is as fine an hotel as any.)
The move of British Airways to Domodedovo has sent ripples through the Russian air transport establishment. Others have looked up. Swiss, effectively a oneworld partner, had moved previously and they have now been joined by Emirates. BA is a coup. With Aeroflot losing the battle to take over Sheremetyevo (see ABTN 16 February), it is threatening to move across but any further success for the airport will rely on decisions by the Star and Skyteam Alliances. In 2004 Domodedovo could easily overtake Sheremetyevo as Moscow”s number one airport in terms of passenger numbers. It already has 55% of all cargo. In January 2004 750,000 passengers moved through the terminal, a 50% rise on 2003. Just a couple of weeks back, at the Singapore Airshow, Domodedovo won the Infrastructure and Environment Award at the 2004 Flight International Aerospace Industry night.
Domodedovo Airport is part of the East Line, a diversified group of 15 Russian companies, which offers a full range of airport services and employs 20,000 people. Founded in 1993, East Line has operated Domodedovo since 1995, steadily developing the airport including, two years ago, the introduction of a high-speed rail link from Moscow right into the airport. Both domestic and international passengers can check-in at the downtown Paveletsky Station. 1.9m people used the Aeroexpress in 2003. However, it is not the Heathrow Express and trains run only at 40-minute intervals.
The actual site of Domodedovo is massive, easily enough space to develop from the current two 3500m plus runways to seven, and from 9.5m passengers in 2003 to the estimated 75m in 2020. Domodedovo Airport is set in flat, bleak agricultural land. No problems with planning permission or the ”nimby” fraternity. The present runways can easily handle up to 70 movements per hour.
It all began in March 1964, when a Tu-104 twinjet took off on the airport”s opening flight to Sverdlovsk. In 1977, a Tu-114 turboprop (a sort of Russian Britannia) was put on the square in front of the airport building to honour those far off days and the aircraft”s remarkable accident-free operation.
Domodedovo can best be described as modern workman-like, without trying to compete with the latest complex glass structures (often designed by architects who have no concept when it comes to practical aspects, such as the huge amount of walking one has to suffer in at least two 21st century monster gateways). With the so-called Terminal 2 now complete, the international passenger capacity has doubled and the arrival of British Airways has introduced one of the best BA lounges anywhere in Europe. The usual shops and restaurants are up to the standard expected, air bridges keep the cold out during the long dark Russian winter, and everyone wants to help. The airport says that the Airbus A380 will cause no problems.
The airport complex is self-sufficient for all air transport needs. Just across the road from the terminal (with a shuttle for those who prefer) the Aerotel offers 294 comfortable rooms, including five deluxe suites, five Junior suites and the balance single and double rooms featuring individual air-conditioning and climate control systems. Aerotel Club rooms feature both a high level of comfort and a comprehensive range of services for relaxation and invigoration ” fitness gym with modern workout facilities, solarium, massage parlour, two saunas, beauty parlour and snooker room. Russian and European cuisine restaurant provides 24-hour service. Every room has sound-proof window frames, an electronic card lock, a modern TV-set with Russian and satellite channels, a direct international phone line, mini-bar and well equipped bathrooms. All very much four star, and ideal for the modern international traveller. There are meeting rooms too for small conferences and briefings.
One aspect of the airport the East Lines is keen to promote is the flight kitchen, certainly up to the latest western standards and determined to explore innovative ideas in the way that meals are packaged and delivered to the aircraft. British Airways, Swiss and Emirates are more than happy to take their supply from the kitchen rather than rely on what is know as return catering (that is re-stocking the galley from the hold). The kitchen is working on a scheme for passengers to be given a menu at check-in and for them to pre-order meals. Whilst in theory it seems a good idea, and will add enormously to efficiency and in cutting down wastage, whether it works in a practical sense remains to be seen. However, where it might just take off is for premium passengers joining long distance flights and waiting in executive lounges. It would certainly be possible to offer an extended menu by organising gate storage of meal modules, loading only that which was required onto the aircraft. The whole scheme is computer driven. If you ordered steak well done that is what you will get even if you have forgotten the original order. But you can”t change your mind once airborne.
Currently some 98 passenger airlines use Domodedovo and 30 cargo operators: 159 international and 67 domestic destinations are served. In 2001 the world outside Russia represented just 31% of 3.9m passengers. In 2004 it is estimated that international passengers will total 52% of 11.6m. Times are moving on.
(a ”nimby” could best be described as a person who is keen on a subject, except where it affects him ”Not In My Back Yard”).