Sheremetyevo International Airport (русский. Международный Аэропорт Шереметьево, Mezhdunarodny Aeroport Sheremetyevo Шаблон:IPA-ru) Шаблон:Airport codes, is an international airport located 29 km (18 miles) north-west of central Moscow, Russia. It is a hub for the passenger operations of the Russian international airline Aeroflot, and one of the three major airports serving Moscow along with Domodedovo International Airport and Vnukovo (the IATA area code for Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo is MOW). It is the second largest in Russia (after Domodedovo). In 2010, the airport handled 19,329,000 passengers and 184,488 aircraft movements.
Sheremetyevo was opened on 11 August 1959; the first international flight was on 1 June 1960 to Berlin (Schönefeld Airport). Sheremetyevo-1 (used by domestic flights) was opened on 3 September 1964. On 12 September 1967, the first scheduled passenger flight of Tupolev Tu-134 departed from Sheremetyevo (to Stockholm), followed by the first scheduled flight of Ilyushin Il-62 (to Montreal) on 15 September.
Sheremetyevo-2, the larger of the two terminals, opened on 1 January 1980 for the 1980 Summer Olympics and is the arrival and departure point for international flights. Flights to cities in Russia and charter flights arrive and depart from Sheremetyevo-1. There is no physical connection between the two terminals; they are essentially separate airports using the same set of runways. Such a layout is rather unusual worldwide; Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, Sydney Airport in New South Wales, Australia, Perth Airport in Western Australia, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska, Ferihegy in Budapest, and Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines are other examples.
In November 2004, an express train connection was established from the Savyolovsky Rail Terminal to the Lobnya station (25 minutes), which is 7 km from the airport, with the remainder of the journey taken by bus or taxi. On 10 June 2008, a new 60,000 square meter rail terminal opened in front of Terminal F with direct service from Savyolovsky Rail Terminal. A shuttle bus service ferries passengers to Terminal B and Terminal C. Tickets on the rail service cost 320 roubles (500 roubles for business class)., and journeys take 35 minutes. From 28 August 2009 the line was continued to Belorussky Rail Terminal, and by 2015, it is intended that a new central rail terminal will service all three of Moscow's main airports. As of 2010, the train operates to Belorussky station non-stop, with the service at Savyolovsky eliminated. The rail link is operated by Aeroexpress, a subsidiary of Russian Railways.
It can take anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours from the city center to get to the airport. The main road leading to the airport — Leningradskoe Highway — can get clogged during the rush hour, often resulting in passengers missing their flights. Calling a cab from downtown Moscow to Sheremetyevo costs around $30–40. Slow buses and faster minivans (fixed price shared taxis, known as marshrutkas) connect Sheremetyevo with Moscow's extensive metro network.
In addition, it is possible to rent a car in the arrivals area of Terminal F. It is required to be at least 25 years of age and have a 1 year driving experience. It is also required to present a passport and a valid driving license.
In the 2000s Sheremetyevo saw growing competition from a newer and more comfortable Domodedovo International Airport. With major airlines leaving Sheremetyevo (most notably, Lufthansa, British Airways, Iberia Airlines, Japan Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Austrian Airlines Group and Swiss International Air Lines), the need for reconstruction had become ever more evident.
A brand new, state-of-the-art, Terminal C, costing an estimated US$87.7 million is now complete beside the old Terminal 1 and has welcomed its first passengers. The terminal is also painted in the new Sheremetyevo orange color scheme. It has Шаблон:Convert of floor space and has a capacity of 5 million passengers per year. The old Terminal 1 (or Sheremetyevo-1) currently caters mainly to internal low-cost flights and flights to Minsk (Belarus). It will be refurbished as a terminal for business jets, to be designated as Terminal B.
Another brand new building, Terminal D, opened in November 2009. The Шаблон:Convert building is home to Aeroflot and its SkyTeam partners, with capacity for 12 million passengers a year. Aeroflot is in the course of transferring all international flights from Terminal F to D (transfer was originally planned for February 2010, then delays were announced).
Terminal 2 (or Sheremetyevo-2), now known as Terminal F, is undergoing what the airport's management calls "cosmetic repairs". A major reconstruction was started and was scheduled for completion by the second quarter of 2010. A new section, Terminal E has opened, connecting Terminal D and F. Since 3 July 2010 a walkway opened between Terminals D, E, F and the Aeroexpress railway terminal on the public access side and since 2 November 2010 a walkway opened between terminals D, E, and F on the security side simplifying transfer between transit flights. After the reconstruction, the southern complex of the airport, the three terminals (D, E and F), will be able to receive up to 25 million passengers annually. Ultimately, after the northern part of the airport is reconstructed, the airport will have a capacity to receive 40 million passengers annually.
The airport's two runways are set for major reconstruction, including widening and resurfacing. The Moscow Oblast government has reserved a piece of land by the airport for a future third runway.
The airline Nordwind Airlines has its head office on the property of Sheremetyevo Airport.
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