Russian-British joint venture opens new business terminal at Sheremetyevo Airport

Published: 11/3/1999

A Russian-British joint venture, Avcom has opened a new business aviation terminal in Sheremetyevo airport. Situated within the GosNII GA (State Scientific Research Institute of Civil Aviation) facility at the airport, the new two-storey 1200 sq.m.terminal replaces an existing facility and joins the Avcom hanger complex used for parking and servicing western business jets. Avcom's older terminal, built three years ago, was sold to LUKoil for its own aviation services. According to Eugeny Bakhtin, Avcom's General Director, the facility had its first commercial flight two weeks ago. Capable of handling up to 30 flights a day, according to Bakhtin, the funding for the new facility was provided by Avcom. While he would not confirm the cost of construction, Bakhtin did comment that such a terminal in the west would have cost approximately $6m. Avcom also has other facilities at Moscow airports, including a wing of an airport building at Domodedovo Airport to serve business travellers. In summer 2000, it is opening a business aviation complex at Domodedovo, including a terminal, hangars for three to four business jets, maintenance and fuelling facilities. Bakhtin says that Domodedovo is more convenient for companies with offices in the south of the capital. He added that, following a sharp fall in demand for business jets after August 1998, business has recovered steadily during 1999 and by August had reached pre-crisis levels. Currently, the company's Falcon is flying for 50 to 70 hours a month. Bakhtin claimed that the Hawker 125-700 and 400F, as well as specially configured Tu-134, have approximately the same level of utilisation. In the case of the Hawker 125-700, the rates charged by Avcom are $2500-$3000 per flight hour, 20-30% less that in the West.

Article ID: 1043