OREANDA-NEWS. The Moscow Domodedovo Airport briefs on the progress of runway-2 modernization project providing for the construction of a new runway and refurbishment of the existing one to turn it into a major taxiway.

The runway construction project was developed by FSUE Aeroproject and in September 2013 was approved by FAA Glavgosekspertiza Rossii, besides, the project documents on the runway-2 reconstruction were approved.

At that it is not planned to close the second runway for the period of the works performance: it is proposed to effect step-by-step reconstruction without reduction of the existing runway capacity practically during the whole period of the construction. At the first stage a new runway will be built 287.5 away from the existing runway-2 along with required taxiways for the aircraft ground operation. Flights will be transferred to the new runway and only then the existing runway-2 will be closed for reconstruction as the major taxiway. Until then the operational condition of runway-2 will be maintained by the chief operator of CJSC INTERNATIONAL DOMODEDOVO AIRPORT.

The serviceability of runway-2 was confirmed by opinions of FSUE Aeroproject in 2011 and 2013. Until this aerodrome infrastructure facility is taken out of operation, the state enterprise will keep on continuously monitoring its operating condition and development of recommendations on the scope of the repair.

The configuration of the landing area of the runway will allow for ensuring the capacity at the level of 45 takeoffs and landings per hour, at that the overall capacity of the aerodrome will achieve 90 takeoffs and landings per hour under standard weather conditions. The length of the new runway will be 3,800 m and all types of aircraft will be able to use it.

Moscow Domodedovo Airport is the largest air hub in Russia, and in 2013, its total passenger traffic amounted 30.76 million people. It falls into the category of the largest airports in Europe and is among the top three fastest growing airports in Europe according to the ACI Europe classification. Since 2009, it has been holding the title of the best airport in Eastern Europe as rated by Skytrax. Domodedovo is the base airport in Moscow for member airlines of the largest global airline alliances - Star Alliance and oneworld.