Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport opens reconstructed runway one and makes first Sputnik V vaccine delivery to Argentina

Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow has commissioned its newly reconstructed runway one (Runway-1).  The ceremony took place on December 24th with a special parade of airfield equipment and welcomed into action by numerous government, airport and airline dignitaries.  

Watch a video of the opening below. 

Runway-1, features two new high-speed-exit taxiways, the capacity of Sheremetyevo airfield's three runways will increase to 110 million passengers per year.  

"We were able to do the reconstruction of Runway-1, which is an important stage in the development of the airfield complex thanks to the current concession agreement between the government, represented by Rosaviatsia, and Sheremetyevo airport," said Alexander Ponomarenko. "As a result, today we have three runways, which, together with the development of terminal capacity and in the context of normalizing passenger traffic volume, provide an opportunity to achieve our strategic goal: serving 110 million passengers per year."

Runway-1 is 3552.5 meters long, with a load-bearing section that measures 60 meters wide. The runway can accommodate all types and modifications of Russian and foreign aircraft for takeoff and landing, including the Airbus A380, as well as future anticipated aircraft types.

Reconstruction of RWY-1 has been a priority project for 2020 as part of the implementation of the Long-term Development Program of Sheremetyevo Airport. The total capital investment exceeded $114 million. The project was funded directly, and investments made under the terms of the concession agreement will be recouped from the investment component of the aircraft take-off and landing fees.

The modern airfield and terminal infrastructure of Sheremetyevo open up broad opportunities for long-term growth and development for base air carriers and new airlines.  Sheremetyevo International Airport plans to join the league of the world's largest aviation hubs and strengthen its status as the main transit air hub between Europe and Asia. 

Also taking place on December 24th at the airport, the Russian Direct Investment Fund shipped the first batch of 300,000 doses of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to Argentina through Sheremetyevo's cargo facilities.  

This delivery of the vaccine is first of 10 million doses the Government of Argentina will receive.  The supply of 300,000 doses to Argentina is one of the largest single shipments of a COVID vaccine to any country in Latin America.

Transportation of Sputnik V requires special attention throughout the supply chain and must adhere to strict temperature requirements at all stages of transportation. It must be maintained at ultra-low temperatures and be held in specialized thermal containers and ice packs. 

Special thermal equipment and isothermal containers are used for the transportation of cargo classified as TTSP, or time & temperature-sensitive products, along the apron. The Moscow Cargo terminal has 26 independent storage areas for TTSP cargoes, all with individually adjustable temperature conditions from -20 to +25° C, as well as 60 thermocells in the automated PCHS (Pallet / Container Handling System) for storing unit load devices (ULDs) holding temperature-sensitive cargo.

Argentina is the first country in Latin America to officially authorize the use of Sputnik V vaccine. The delivery of 300,000 doses will enable Argentina to begin mass-scale vaccination before the end of 2020. Sputnik V is currently used for vaccination in Russia.

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