aerobd.news : Sheremetyevo International Airport, located around 29km northwest of central Moscow in Russia, has revealed plans for extensive upgrades totalling US$865m ahead of the country hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2018.

Russia’s infrastructure will be put to the test by an influx of teams, officials and fans, so Sheremetyevo is investing in walkways located directly beneath the airfield, a renovated terminal, plus new cargo and refueling facilities. Sheremetyevo is Russia’s largest airport in terms of passenger traffic, and take-off and landing operations, with its plans for 2018 part of a much larger expansion program that will continue until 2026. A key feature, open in time for the World Cup, will be the underground passage connecting the terminals, with travelers and baggage moving beneath the existing runways. This will cost US$245m and is said to be a world first. The tunnel connecting the North and South terminal complexes will be 1,936m long and 6m wide.

Terminal B, with an estimated capacity of 20 million passengers a year and set over 114,000m², will become the airport’s main hub. Renovations costing US$305m will give the facility a makeover, and will include a new integrated baggage system capable of handling 4,800 bags per hour. There will also be improved seating and VIP areas. A new 47,000m² cargo complex will complete the developments at this stage, and will feature a modular design that can be added to as the airport capacity grows.

It is expected to cost US$85m, and will be the most advanced cargo storage and handling facility in Russia. Michael Vasilenko, the director general of Sheremetyevo International Airport, said, “The implementation of this development program will help us become one of the largest passenger and cargo hubs in the world. This will increase the attractiveness of Moscow as an international financial center and raise the level of competitiveness in our country as a whole. The commissioning of the main facilities is scheduled for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.”