The endeavor will involve Bykovo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo airports, with government capital investment in the infrastructure.
Landing and taxiing strips, lighting and air navigation equipment are government property. All need thorough updating, which will take big money, so capital has to be attracted.
At present, the Moscow junction hardly has a transnational scope-an overwhelming majority of passengers prefer to make changes in the neighboring countries, which offer better services and greater comfort.
The updating concept will make a choice in favor of one port, which deserves to make an international junction. Domodedovo appears the most convenient for the best landing strips and sufficient distance from the city, while Sheremetyevo has the palm for quick landings.
The federal Cabinet will weigh each port's pros and cons to decide which promises the most lucrative modernization investment.
The Alpha Sheremetyevo and the Aeroflot companies will establish a joint venture for Sheremetyevo port management. The mother companies are expected to promptly offer a basic concept of the endeavor. The Sheremetyevo Board will not receive government orders before the concept is submitted for consideration.
The emergent joint company is, in its turn, to offer an airport development concept for the next three years, with Terminals 1 and 2 for far-reaching modernization, and another terminal to be built. All issues concerning the new company are coming down from the Cabinet to the Transportation Ministry for consideration, says Mr. Levitin.
