Sochi Airport

Sochi International Airport – Olympic Air Gateway

Sochi International Airport is the face of the country’s major resort and the air gateway to the Sochi 2014 Olympics. Sochi is one of Russia’s five biggest airports in terms of domestic passenger throughput. The airport handled 1.4 million passengers in 2009. Some 35 airlines operate scheduled and charter flights from Sochi to more than 50 destinations in Russia and abroad.

The airport’s partners include the biggest Russian and international carriers, linking Sochi with cities in Russia, the CIS and other regions. The Basel Aero company’s airports, which include Krasnodar, Anapa, Gelendzhik and Yeisk besides Sochi, are open to all the world’s airlines. Basel Aero’s airports are implementing the very latest technologies for the safety and comfort of passengers, and speeding up turnaround and enhancing the quality of aircraft servicing in order to attract carriers, expand the route network and meet the demands of passengers.

New Sochi Airport Terminal

On September 16, 2010 Basic Element held the official opening ceremony for the new terminal complex at Sochi International Airport. This state-of-the-art terminal is the first key facility to be commissioned for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and is a crucial phase in preparing the airport for this major event.

The new terminal complex, which is already operating and handling passengers on both domestic and international flights, is equipped with the latest engineering systems and technological equipment, ensuring the highest degree of safety and comfort. Particular emphasis was put on ecology and resource efficiency when building the terminal.

The new terminal complex boosts the airport's passenger throughput capacity from 900 to 1,600 passengers per hour. In 2012, when the airport finger with its ten telescopic gangways is completed, the airport will be able to handle up to 2,500 passengers per hour, rising, in time for the Olympics, to 3,800, in full keeping with International Olympic Committee requirements.

Overall investment in the airport terminal was 6.2 billion rubles.

Advanced Technology: Safety, Reliability, Comfort

The new air terminal building is an example of a successful architectural solution, and boasts the latest engineering systems and equipment. The terminal’s construction took environmental standards into consideration in order to save natural resources without sacrificing comfort. The complex has solar-powered water heaters, power-saving and air-quality control systems and an air recirculation system. The terminal uses the air curtain system, which keeps temperatures inside the building constant at all times of the year.

The new terminal uses the very latest passenger, luggage, cargo and aircraft handling technologies. Incoming and outgoing luggage is handled by VanDerLande equipment, which has recommended itself at the world’s leading airports. Rapiscan systems are used for passenger and luggage screening, providing a fast four-tier luggage screening facility for up to 7,000 units per hour.

The terminal employs the very latest IT infrastructure, incorporating a local area network, telephone and conference lines, trusted computer base, datacenter; and modern airport solutions, including triple play technology and building management system.

The new terminal has isle and self-service check-in facilities and is one of only two air terminals in Russia to provide customs screening for luggage after it has been checked in.

Special emphasis was placed on disabled passengers when designing the airport, which is equipped with elevators, lifts and escalators, including lifts with audible announcements and Braille controls.

The terminal will also include a leisure zone with more than 6,000 square meters of restaurants, bars, cafes and shops.

Thanks to its comprehensive architectural solution, the airport terminal will host many leasehold areas, but passengers will not get lost: the terminal will have a navigation system with the locations of all airport facilities.

The terminal’s other features include a unique atrium – a little pocket of nature in the midst of a hi-tech complex.

Basel Aero

Sochi International Airport is one of five airports run by Basel Aero.

Basel Aero, the airports operating company, was established in 2007 and is part of Basic Element's Aviation Sector. Basel Aero operates airports in Krasnodar, Anapa, Gelendzhik and Yeisk besides Sochi. The airports handled 3.5 million passengers in 2007.