Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) is located in Khimki, 29km north of Moscow, Russia. It is the largest Russian airport operating scheduled international flights.
SVO handled 31.5 million passengers in 2014, recording a growth of 5.2% when compared with 2013. The airport is operated by International Airport Sheremetyevo.
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The airport is undergoing intensive development and large-scale infrastructure modernisation since 2005.
A recent proposal for the construction of a new Terminal B of the northern terminal complex (NTC) and a new inter-terminal passage (passenger and luggage tunnels) between south terminal complex (STC) and NTC was announced in July 2014.
The airport authority signed an agreement with Aecom Technology for the construction of two projects by 2017. Upon completion, the new terminal is expected to increase airport’s capacity to 53 million passengers by 2023.
The new inter-terminal passage will ease the passenger flow between STC and NTC, decrease the connection time and increase the speed of passenger transfers and luggage transportation between the terminals. The projects will be ready in time for 2018 FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia.
Sheremetyevo International Airport background
Sheremetyevo International Airport is the joint-stock company that owns the airport. It was formed in 1996 from the publicly owned operation that had controlled the airport since 1959.
Although all the shares in the airport company are owned by the federal government, the city authorities of Moscow are eager to take a share of the airport revenues.
They argued their case on the basis of disputed ownership of land that was used by the airport. Ownership disputes could have threatened the entire project if they were not resolved at an early stage. The most significant danger was to the third runway, which needs to use land that the airport did not own.
In resolution of the disputes, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the airport and Aeroflot and Terminal OAO for building Terminal 3 at the airport.
Sheremetyevo International Airport master plan
SVO is the first airport in Russia to develop a comprehensive master plan for the future development until 2030. Developed in September 2008, the master plan aims to create a strategy for long-term land development and stipulates the increased handling capacity to 64 million people, transit flow up to 25%.
The plan also specifies the necessity for second manoeuvring area and a third takeoff and landing strip (TLS-3) to cater the future growth. The construction of TLS-3 the passenger terminal capacity of the terminal will be in line with the airfield capacity.
The plan also includes a new 20,000m² multimodal cargo complex, which will be built according to international cargo handling standards. The complex will serve the future cargo traffic of more than one million tons a year by 2030.
The long term development plans of the airport authority will create a positive impact by strengthening the economic stability in the north-west area of Moscow region and also contribute to the social welfare of region. The modernisation programs will further strengthen the airport’s position and enables it to become one of the leading air hubs in Europe.
The ministry of transport has granted approximately $2bn from the federal budget and $1bn from non-budgetary funds for the upgrade project. The contract to prepare the airport master plan was awarded to Scott Wilson.
Infrastructure developments timeline
Terminal 1 was inaugurated on 3 September 1964 and handles internal flights. A transit hall to serve visa-free transit and transfer passengers was opened in March 2003. Terminal 1 currently handles more than five million passengers a year. The Terminal 2 was inaugurated in 1987 and handles international flights.
In May 2003, Sheremetyevo International Airport awarded a contract to HOCHTIEF to overhaul Terminal 2’s security system. The project also involved the reconstruction of the terminal building and the installation of new baggage and screening systems.
The modernisation project began in late 2003 and was completed in 2007. As part of the programme a rail link was built outside Terminal 2. The link connects the airport with Moscow’s Savyolovsky Rail Terminal and the town of Lobnya.
The new international Terminal C was inaugurated in March 2007. It was built on a 40,000ft² area and has a capacity of five million passengers a year. It is located to the right of Terminal B, formerly known as Sheremetyevo-1. Terminal C features restaurants, cafes, duty-free retail areas, banking facilities and four-level parking facility for 2,500 cars.
The reconstruction project of the second takeoff and landing strip (TLS-2) concluded in 2008. The 3,700m-long TLS-2 can accommodate all types of aircraft, including Airbus-380.
The modernisation of the Terminal F (previously Sheremetyevo-2) was completed in 2009. The project included the reconstruction of sterile areas, removal of partition walls and optimisation of the duty-free area.
Aeroflot awarded a $500m contract to Enka for the design and construction of a new terminal, Terminal D. Heinrich Lamparter Stahlbau GmbH and Co was the lead contractor. The terminal was specifically designed to serve the flights of Aeroflot Air Company and Sky Team alliance. The construction began in 2004 and was completed in 2009.
The terminal is spread across an area of 172,000m² and has a passenger handling capacity of 12 million passengers a year. It has six floors and a 48,000m² ground floor area. A modern international Terminal E opened in mid-2010. The 76,000m² facility is capable of handling seven million passengers a year. Terminals E, D, F and Aeroexpress railway station forms a single complex called South Terminal Complex (STC).
The terminals are connected to each other using pedestrian galleries equipped with travelators, allowing passengers to move easily within the complex. The entire duty-free area is in a single zone and allows the passengers to shop conveniently. Terminal E has capsule hotels and Aeroexpress rail terminal.
A new 3,000m² Terminal A was built in 2011 in the northern part of the airport for business aviation. It was commissioned in January 2012 and has an annual passenger handling capacity of 75,000 passengers. The terminal offers a comprehensive range of services for the business aviation customers and helps increase the number of premium-class passengers at the airport.
The construction of a new Terminal B of NTC and a new inter terminal passage between south is scheduled for completion by 2017. The new terminal will have an area of 100,000m² and a passenger handling capacity of 15 million a year. The terminal passage will have two 2,138m-long tunnels for passengers and luggage. These will connect the north and south ends of the airport.
Air traffic control (ATC) tower at Sheremetyevo Airport
The new air traffic control tower (ATC) at the Sheremetyevo Airport was opened in February 2013. A new air traffic management centre of the ATC tower was built through a special purpose programme initiated by the federal government.
The ATC tower meets the present requirements of aircraft-servicing quality while enhancing the flight safety, level of control over the aircraft movements. It also ensures reliable coordination during adverse weathers and high-flying intensity conditions.
Lead contractors
Skanska and Sheremetyevo developed, financed, designed and built the airport. Skanska acted as project developer and contractor, as well as arranged financing for the project. Skanska BOT, the group’s unit for investment in projects and infrastructure, and the Finnish subsidiary Skanska Oy have combined to provide competence within project development.
In addition, Skanska BOT invested in the project and Skanska Oy was responsible for the necessary construction work.
