OREANDA-NEWS. Vnukovo International took part in the World Low Cost Airlines Congress 2007 in London, an exhibition and conference showcasing low-cost carriers (LCCs) from across the globe, lasted September 17-19, the Vnukovo press-service reported. The principal goal of the Congress was exchange of ideas, experience, and new strategies on how to promote low-cost carriers in the global air travel market. The forum had brought together top managers of companies from various sectors of the air transport and travel industry, as well as those of travel agencies, investment banks, plus the top executives of over a hundred and fifty airlines, including representatives of major players in the European, Asian and American LCC markets.

Vnukovo International's participation is part of the consistent marketing strategy pursued by the Airport which is aimed at expanding its route network and attracting new carriers. Meetings and negotiations with LCC representatives were held at the Vnukovo stand during the event.Vnukovo International was the first airport in Russia to have actively embarked on cooperation with a strictly low-cost carrier within the alliance - Germanwings, Vnukovo's counterpart in the tandem, in turn became the first Western airline to inaugurate regular services out of Vnukovo International. It has been over two years since the carrier chose Vnukovo International as its base of operations in the Moscow Air Transport Hub due to numerous advantages setting the airport apart from the rest of Moscow's air gateways. Vnukovo International enjoys an eminently favorable location that makes it the airfield closest to the city center.

Vnukovo International has also become 'the home base airport' for Russia's first LCC Sky Express that has been operating scheduled domestic services to a growing number of destinations since this year's January. The carrier currently operates its B-737 fleet on routes that link Vnukovo International with the Russian destinations of Sochi, Murmansk, Rostov-on-Don, Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg, and Tyumen  with more to follow the suit before long.  In the course of the World Low Cost Airlines Congress 2007 its participants were offered  the latest updates on the progress of the Airport Development Master Plan currently under implementation at Vnukovo Intl., including the Airport's plans on expanding the business it does with low-cost carriers.