OREANDA-NEWS. December 31, 2009. St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport on Friday introduced two new all-weather landing strips capable of receiving all classes of aircraft, making it one of the most modern facilities of its kind in Russia.

The opening of the new airstrips came soon after the launch of the Sapsan train between Moscow and St. Petersburg and claims made by the head of Russian Railways that the new high-speed rail link was intended to win passengers away from air carriers.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin took the Sapsan train from St. Petersburg to Moscow on Saturday, while Vice Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov’s government plane was the first to land on one of the new airstrips following their opening.

With the opening of the new facilities Pulkovo Airport has doubled its flight capacity.