OREANDA-NEWS. September 23, 2013, the delegation of Korean Air headed by the Regional Director and Executive Vice President for Russia and CIS Mr. SONG Bo Yong paid an official visit to NOVOSIBIRSK International Airport.

Representatives of the leading airline of the Republic of Korea inspected infrastructure and technical equipment of the airport, supervised functioning of the cargo terminal and the fuelling complex as well as examined both passenger terminals of the airport. The General Director of Airport Tolmachevo JSC Evgeniy Yankilevich reported on prospects for the development of airfield infrastructure and the airport’s terminal complex, including reconstruction works of the international passenger terminal being in progress.

Within the framework of the visit, Korean Air delegates also conducted negotiations with the members of the airport’s management team, involved in apron and passenger handling services. The main topic was the possibility for partnership and launching of direct services to Novosibirsk, both passenger and cargo flights, operated by the airline.

Extension of the route network adding direct flights on prospective Seoul - Novosibirsk - Seoul route stays among the airport’s top priorities. Direct flights to the capital of South Korea will ensure convenient transfer traffic to South East Asia, Australia and the USA. In its turn, NOVOSIBIRSK International Airport has all chances to become an accessible Russian point of entry for the Korean tourists travelling to Siberia, for instance, Gorny Altai.

NOVOSIBIRSK International Airport is the largest air hub in Russia east of the Urals on major transit routes between Europe and Asia. The domestic airline capacity makes up 1,800 passengers per hour, on international flights - 750 passengers per hour. The airport has two runways. In 2013 it expects to serve over 3.7 million passengers and handle over 35 thousand tons of cargo and mail.

Korean Air is the leading national airlines of the Republic of Korea, being a member of SkyTeam alliance. The fleet comprises 149 aircraft (as on March 29, 2013) including Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 777-300, Airbus A300-600, Airbus A330-200, Airbus A330-300 and Airbus A380-800. In 2012 the company served 2.428 million passengers and handled 154 million tons of cargo. Korean Air Cargo, the airlines’ freight subsidiary, is one of the largest cargo air carriers in the world with the fleet comprising 22 Boeing 747-400F, 3 Boeing 747-8F and 3 Boeing 777F aircraft.