OREANDA-NEWS. Airport Development, a part of Russia's largest industrial diversified group Basic Element, announces that it signed an agreement with the administration of the city of Anapa in southern Russia on building a new airport. Basel Aero will invest USD 15.6 mln to the project. The airport is expected to be commissioned in 2015.

On 27 September 2013, Basel Aero which operates airports in Sochi, Krasnodar, Anapa and Gelendzhik, signed an investment agreement at the XII International Investment Forum Sochi-2013 with the administration of the resort city of Anapa on building a new airport.

The agreement stipulates the construction of a new airport complex near the existing Anapa airport. The project is estimated to be completed within three years.

The city's administration will facilitate bureaucratic issues including land-related and project documents as well as connecting construction buildings with utility infrastructure.

A 9,000-sq. m airport is a two-floor building with a passenger capacity of 700 passengers per hour. The terminal will serve domestic airlines while the existing airport will turn into the international terminal. A total area of the existing Anapa airport is 5,000 sq.m, a handling passenger capacity is 400 passengers per hour. When the new airport is finished, an overall area of the airport complex will almost triple, reaching 14,000 sq.m with the handling capacity increased to 1,100 passengers per hour in 2015.

The new airport will feature energy-efficient technology (solar batteries), environmentally-friendly materials and modern equipment ensuring safety of passengers, airport's staff and crew members. Basel Aero's experience of equipping Sochi and Krasnodar airports with the security systems will also be realized in Anapa.

A concession area of the new airport will be organized in accordance to the passengers' consumer preferences and spending capacity. There will also be a children's playground in the airport as well as a business lounge.

During the construction of the new airport, the Anapa International Airport will be operational. There will be no construction-related disruptions either for passengers or for the carriers.

Sergey Sergeev, Anapa's mayor, comments: “Anapa is the major Russia's family resort visited by over three million people annually. We expect growth in demand for tourist services what requires an increase of transport infrastructure's capacity and improving the quality of services. By 2015, Anapa will host over four million of tourists every year, that's why we need to serve them in safe and comfortable airports. Anapa is definitely one of such facilities.”

Leonid Sergeev, Basel Aero CEO, says: “The expansion of the airport is of major significance for all Russians who prefer domestic resorts and Anapa in particular as a comfortable family recreation place. While developing the airport's project, we've used the advanced technology in serving passengers. The airport's blueprint will be completed by the end of 2013, the construction will start in 2014.”