Reaching New Heights: St Petersburg Airport Voted Among Europe's Best

St. Petersburg's Pulkovo International Airport was voted one of Europe's finest in the Airports Council International survey of customer service in 95 of the continent's airports; in the dining category, it took first place.

St. Petersburg's Pulkovo International Airport has been named one of Europe's best in a survey of passenger satisfaction in 95 airports carried out by Airports Council International [ACI], the airport's administration announced on Tuesday.

The airport was named Europe's fourth best by passengers in the second quarter of 2015; the airport hopes to maintain or even improve its ranking before the final recipients of the 2015 award are announced at the beginning of next year.

Pulkovo received the ranking after getting rave reviews from passengers in a range of categories. 

The airport took third place in users' assessment of the accessibility of ground transport, the competence and courtesy of check-in staff, and the meticulousness of pre-flight inspections.

The airport was voted fifth best in Europe for ease of transfers, and came in second place for the quality of service in its business lounges and gate areas. 

The highest accolade came for the quality of food and drink in the airport's cafés and restaurants, which took first place in the catering category.

Passengers inside the renovated Pulkovo-1 airport terminal.

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The 2015 award is not Pulkovo Airport's first recognition for passenger satisfaction from the ACI; in the 2014 survey it took first place in Europe's 'most improved airport' category. If Pulkovo manages to improve on its progress thus far, it may emulate Moscow's Sheremetevo Airport, which in the 2014 survey was voted Europe's second best, after Keflavik Airport in Iceland.  

The renovated Pulkovo-1 airport terminal in St. Petersburg.

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St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport is the third biggest in Russia, after Moscow's Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo airports; in 2014 the airport served 14.3 million passengers.

In 2009 Pulkovo Airport became the first in Russia to be granted in concession, when the Northern Capital Gateway [NCC] consortium of buyers – Russian VTB capital, German airport services company Fraport AG, and the Greek Copelouzos Group – was awarded the right to operate and develop the airport for a 30-year period, as part of a public-private partnership deal with the City of St. Petersburg.

The official opening ceremony of the renovated Pulkovo-1 airport terminal.

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The consortium won the tender on the condition a €1.2 billion investment project be undertaken to develop the airport's infrastructure, including reconstruction of the airport's facilities, new commercial buildings, and the building of a new terminal, which officially opened in February this year.