OREANDA-NEWS. November 25, 2010. Vnukovo International welcomed the Airport's eight-millionth air traveler this year. Similar passenger numbers were last seen at the Airport only in 1991 at the height of demand in the air travel market at the time.

Vnukovo's passenger numbers have been growing at the rate of 24,4 percent so far this year. A significant increase in the number of air travelers welcomed can be largely attributed to substantial infrastructural transformations at Vnukovo International such as the operational launch of the all-new passenger Terminal A's Stage One, as well as the Airport's concerted policy and efforts aimed at improving the quality of service it offers to both its passengers and airline tenants, and at attracting new air carriers to commence operations out of Vnukovo.

A total of six newcomer airlines have started scheduled services out of Vnukovo International so far this year, including the Ural Airlines and Saratov Airlines of Russia, the AeroSvit and Dniproavia of Ukraine, as well as Belavia, the Belorussian flag-carrier, and Messrs. Bulgaria Air, a Bulgarian holiday destination carrier. The addition of new air carriers has assured not only increased passenger growth but has also expanded the Airport's overall route network offering with the addition of such popular destinations as Minsk, Belarus, Kiev and Sebastopol in Ukraine, Sofia, Varna, and Burgas in Bulgaria, as well as the Russian City of Saratov.

Quite apart from the new carriers, the Airport's leading airline tenants such as UTair have also been expanding and diversifying their service offering out of Vnukovo International. So far this year UTair has added a total of eight new destinations to its list of fifty seven cities served in Russia, the CIS, former Union member-nations, and those farther abroad. The air carrier has transported 40 percent more passengers via Vnukovo International this year. Passenger number growth well above the industry average has also been achieved by Moscow Airlines (at 45 %), Vladivostok Avia (at 68 %), and Yakutia (at 48%) respectively.

Vnukovo International is one of Russia's largest air gateways with more than 150 thousand flights - operated by both Russian and foreign carriers - handled here every day. The Airport's route network map spans most of the Federation's regions, as well as the CIS and other former Union member-nations, and those of Western Europe, Asia, and Africa.