Russia, Airports of the South (Krasnodar region)
Changi Airports International (CAI) marked its first foray into Russia in June 2012 by investing in a group of airports in the Krasnodar region. The airports serve the resorts of Sochi and Anapa as well as the business center and political capital of the Krasnodar region.
Through a joint venture with its local partners, CAI set out to develop the airports into world-class aviation centres.
The Krasnodar region has an area of 76,000 sq km and a population of about 5.5 million. An established domestic tourism destination and an important agro-industrial centre, the region sits astride the main transit routes from Europe, Ukraine and central Russia to the Caucasus, and the trans-Asian territories south of the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Its picturesque coastline and mountain range draw some 16 million tourists annually. The region is host to major international events such as the 2018 FIFA World Cup, 2014 Winter Olympic Games, annual F1 Grand Prix and International Investment Forum.
Since CAI’s entry, the airports have undergone different phases of development.
Sochi International Airport has improved its terminal and operations, with its new 10-gate passenger gallery, a state-of-the-art security system, and a new airport terminal signage system. This enabled Sochi to handle a record 37,000 passengers a day at the 2018 World Cup, more than double the number on a normal day.
The implementation of a new airport service training programme, Service Blueprinting, and participation in the global ACI ASQ programme are key drivers for the strong service performance, leading to numerous award recognitions as the top airport in Russia and Europe.
A new 4,000-sqm VIP terminal, the largest of its kind in Russia, was added along with new world-class duty-paid and duty-free shops. The Store Sochi, established in collaboration with Dufry, also upgraded the airport’s commercial offering to international standards.
The Krasnodar International Airport complex was reconstructed to increase the terminal throughput capacity three-fold to 1,700 passengers per hour. Detailed design for a new terminal, which will further augment the airport’s handling capability to 2,600 passengers per hour, is underway.
The commercial area was also revamped and retail offerings expanded with the launch of The Store Krasnodar, a duty paid shop, followed by a duty free shop.
At Anapa International Airport, a new 11,800-sqm airport complex boasting energy-efficient technology and environmental-friendly material opened its doors to passengers in July 2017. Serving mainly domestic flights, the new complex has the capacity to handle up to 600 passengers per hour.
Together with the current 5,000-sqm terminal which serves international traffic, Anapa International Airport now has tripled its original capacity and can accommodate up to 1,100 passengers per hour.
CAI holds a 30% stake in the joint venture that owns the airports and its management company, Aerodynamics (formerly known as Basel Aero). With CAI’s active participation, the airports are witnessing a steady passenger traffic growth – from 5.5 million passengers in 2012 to 13 million at the start of 2020.