Airports in Surgut and Nizhnevartovsk will serve international routes

Published: 5/18/2000

On 24th April 2000, the authorities approved the decision to establish border entry points for international travellers at Surgut and Nizhnevartovsk (Khanty-Mansiyskiy autonomous district) to allow the airports to handle international flights. According to the decree giving the airports international status, Khanty-Mansiyskiy district's administration must fund the development of the international facilities that are required to handle international passengers in immigration and customs. When the construction and reorganisation is complete, the airports will be subject to FSVT and other federal organisations' inspection to meet international airport standards. According to the FSVT, the decision to give the airports international status is positive as the major Russian oil companies based in the Khanty-Mansiyskiy autonomous district, including Surgutneftegaz and Nizhnevartovskneftegaz, will be able to bypass re-routes to reach destinations in the Baltics and the rest of the CIS, where many of their staff come from or they where they have projects underway. There has been heavy investment in the air infrastructure of the region recently with development of two airports. Khanty-Mansiysk International Airport is currently in the midst of a programme to upgrade the airport at a cost of $40m for the World Biathlon Championships due to take place in the city in 2003. Additional funding has also been forthcoming for the development of Surgut Airport by a consortium including Tyumenaviatrans and Surgutgaprom. A new terminal is reported to be opening in July after funding was provided in February for the new terminal and renovation of the old structure. There have also been reports that there have been efforts to combine the region's three airports into a regional airport company led by Vladislav Nesterov, Chairman of the Khanty-Mansiyskiy Property Fund.

Article ID: 1789