Vladimir Putin walked about the check-in area featuring a “green wall”, the largest indoor plant structure in Europe, and had a look at a scale model of the airport complex. He also heard a report on the progress of construction. After that, the President went to the baggage handling area, which for the first time in the history of the Soviet Union and Russia has an entirely domestically made system. The conveyor belts are two kilometers long in total.
The new terminal will have a capacity of 7 million passengers per year, which can be increased up to 10 million per year. It is equipped with 52 check-in counters, 28 elevators, 16 escalators, 8 jet bridges and 8 exits to buses, and also has special rooms for mothers with children, plus a play area for children.
By the end of 2019, the city is planning to finish overhauling the runway and building a new apron for 26 airplanes.
After finishing the tour of the new airport, the head of state signed the guest book for distinguished visitors.
In addition, during the tour of the airport Vladimir Putin learned about progress in implementing a number of federal targeted programmes. In particular, Energy Minster Alexander Novak told the President about the measures to ensure the reliable operation of the energy system in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. According to Minister Novak, the first power-generating units at the Simferopol (Tavricheskaya) and Sevastopol (Balaklavskaya) thermal power stations in Crimea will be put into operation in late May, ensuring good power reserve capacity for the peninsula.
Next, the President of Russia heard the report of the Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov on progress in the construction of the Tavrida motorway between Kerch and Simferopol. Minister Sokolov said that two out of the four planned lanes would be finished by the end of the year. The entire project, including the section of the highway leading to Sevastopol, will be fully completed by 2020. The Minister of Transport also spoke about plans to build roads in Krasnodar Territory, including a project to build and renovate the road between Novorossiisk and Dzhubga.
Earlier in the day, the President visited the construction site of the Crimean Bridge, the new transport link between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, and met with construction workers.