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Joint Stock Company “International Airport Simferopol” is one of the leading
enterprises of the ARC’s air transport complexes and one of the Ukraine’s
biggest airports.
Established in 1936, the airport has passed
a long way from an unpaved air-field to the developed infra-structure
both in aviation technology and air travellers’ service.
The name of Simferopol airport can be found on all
the air traffic charts and maps, as it is an integral part of the global
air traffic system.
Today’s OAO International Airport Simferopol can offer
a broad range of services which provide for the comfort of the air travellers’
stay at the airport.
The international airport status implies an ever-continuing
improvement of services offered. Enhancement of air transport reliability
and improving the air travellers’ service are the focal point of the work
conducted. A number of auxiliary businesses have been created to assist
in bringing offered services to a higher level.
In 2008, OAO International Airport Simferopol was
awarded a Letter of Commendation by the Airport GA Association and was
at the top of the “Intensively Developing Airport of the CIS countries”
nomination.
Below is given our interview with V.A. Anufriyev,
the Chairman of the Board of OAO International Airport Simferopol:
Currently, flight safety is being much talked
about. What is being done to keep up the Simferopol airport challenging
international status?
To meet flight safety and traffic up-to-date requirements,
a constant concern of the activities conducted by the airport is getting
higher levels of flight safety and the increase of the airport handling
capacity.
The following four lines of this activity can be identified:
- increasing the airport airspace traffic capacity;
- increasing the airfield infrastructure handling
capacity;
- increasing the airport terminal complex handling
capacity;
- updating the airport infrastructure to meet the
needs of the increasing air travellers turnover.
Air traffic control is done by the regional unit “Krymaerorukh”,
covering the areas of the Crimean peninsular, some parts of Kherson and
Zaporozhie regions and the Black Sea basin, including its neutral waters.
Every 24 hours, Krymaerorukh handles 1,200 aircrafts, accounting for 40%
of the Ukraine’s total volume of attended aircraft. Updated radio aids,
radio-relay and fiber optic communication lines, the latest radar complexes
and Victoria automatic air traffic control system have been put into operation.
In 2007, the best in Ukraine air traffic control centre was commissioned.

A large-scale reconstruction of terminals, runways,
taxiways and main tracks, their equipment, airport buildings, facilities
and utilities ought to be done to increase the airfield infrastructure
handling capacity. The Simferopol airport reconstruction programme
was developed by KrymNIIproject and Ukraeroproject research institutes,
and the new terminal complex is estimated at about USD 50,000,000 – 60,000,000.
At the moment, we are trying to find an investor.
The Company, however, is not going to stay idle and
is planning to do, what it can, on its own. So, in the 2009-2010
years, our target is to reduce the airport meteorological minimum to the
second ICAO grade which will enable landings in restricted visibility,
provided the airplane is adequately equipped and the crew is adequately
qualified.
The
existing air terminal complex is based on the 1950s-1960s-buildings. Much
has been done to make the terminals meet the current standards – a domestic
airlines terminal has been built, international arrivals and departures
terminals expanded, baggage carousels installed.
To meet the increasing air traffic demands, a decision
has been taken to build a new international airlines terminal which will
boost the airport capacity up to 1,000 person / hour and ensure the high
quality service. Some preparatory work has been completed, and the construction
of the new terminal is due to start in the near future.
Other
flight supporting units are not lagging behind, their personnel have been
trained accordingly and authorized to do the servicing of the modern aircraft.
Such big airlines as Aeroflot, International Airlines of Ukraine, Aerosvit
testify to their high qualification.
What is new in the air travelers’ servicing?
Our airport is one of the first in Ukraine to have
introduced a computer-aided process control system and to start handling
e-tickets. We constantly update facilities designed to service travelers
and airplanes. To help handicapped people get aboard the plane, we have
acquired special equipment.
What were the results of the last year?
In
2008, the airport handled 850,000 travellers and over 6,500 flights flown
by 30 airlines of Ukraine, CIS and far abroad countries.
An average 15% growth rate in the services offered
is stably observed annually. In 2008, the growth rate of the
travellers’ turnover was 20%.
Over 11 million Ukrainian hryvnas’ worth of tax payments
were paid by the airport to different budgets and special funds in 2008.
Can you tell us about the airport further development
prospects?
Our
plans cover: full reconstruction of the airport land side, construction
of a new three-storeyed travellers’ terminal, whose second level will
be used for departures and its third level – as a waiting lounge for transit
travelers, construction of a cargo terminal, remodeling of the A-terminal
for VIP-travellers.
According to the programme of reconstruction, the
runway is to be renovated, new taxiways and parking lots for the air planes
up to 450 t are to be constructed.
Besides, as a near-term target, the airport territory
is to be divided into different zones, such as zones of development
of business and general aviation, passengers’ platform and cargo apron,
of aircraft maintenance and service, a fuel supply complex, hotels, business-centres,
etc.

Our main objective is to meet world standards both
in servicing travelers and in handling airlines.
We are trying to do our best to accomplish our goal
and to make our guests’ stay in the Simferopol Airport most enjoyable.