Moscow's Lomonosov Domodedovo Airport (DME) has summed up the results of 2019. In December, the airport reached a new milestone in its history: 700,000,000 passengers have chosen Domodedovo for travel since its inception in 1962.
In 2019 Moscow's Domodedovo Airport has been officially named after the great scientist M.V. Lomonosov. In honor of this, the airport hosted a ceremony, and a portrait of the renowned naturalist adorned the terminal's façade.
Development of the route network
In 2019, DME welcomed a new partner, Air Astana. A codeshare agreement was signed between the carrier and DME's flag carrier, S7 Airlines. Air Astana connects Moscow with Kazakhstan's largest cities: Almaty and Nur-Sultan.
Domodedovo Airport's route network has also expanded with other new destinations. For example, Ural Airlines launched flights to Bordeaux, Montpellier, and Girona. S7 Airlines launched flights to Nice and Semipalatinsk. IrAero and Smartavia launched flights to Orenburg. Royal Flight resumed flights to popular tourist destinations: Goa, Nha Trang, U-Tapao, Colombo, and Antalya.
Following a comprehensive assessment of the Moscow airport hub, the Lufthansa Group—Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, and SWISS—decided to continue their partnership with Domodedovo Airport for the next five years, until 2025. Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, and Dmitry Kamenshchik, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Moscow Domodedovo Airport, held a bilateral meeting to discuss the further development of their partnership.
Infrastructure projects
In 2019, DME Group completed a number of major infrastructure projects, improved technological processes and passenger services, and laid the foundation for further business development.
A vehicle overpass with a passenger pickup and drop-off area has opened in front of the airport terminal. It is located within walking distance of the terminal and has a daily capacity of 28,000 vehicles. The overpass will be part of a two-level interchange that will separate traffic flows between departures and arrivals.
From the overpass, drivers can access the multi-level parking garage, which is connected to the terminal via a pedestrian walkway. Parking users can enter the airport without going outside.
As part of the UNDER ONE ROOF concept, new terminal areas continue to open: the western atrium has been opened in the domestic arrivals area. The atrium, which stands 22 meters tall, mirrors the eastern atrium in the international arrivals area. Its opening has increased the terminal's total area by 6,800 square meters. The continuous glazing of the façade emphasizes the benefits of natural light and thereby improves the terminal's energy efficiency.
New services for passengers
A new lounge has been opened for passengers with reduced mobility, designed to accommodate 50 people at a time.
The mother-and-child room now has cribs and baby monitors for babies. A free stroller service has been launched.
The first tourist center in the Moscow region has opened, regularly hosting presentations of Moscow region cities for airport guests.
The 24-hour Aerobeauty beauty salon has opened on the second floor of the DME terminal's common area.
The airport's business lounges have begun serving holders of the Chinese DragonPass loyalty program.
New technologies
Domodedovo Airport was the first in Russia to offer passengers electronic boarding passes. To this end, the airport installed automated turnstiles that recognize 2D barcodes and QR codes on both paper and electronic cards. Using electronic passes saves on printing and expedites passenger pre-flight procedures.
DME has implemented a new information system, "Slot Coordination," designed to automate the process of coordinating slots requested by airlines. The system automatically consolidates slot requests received across various channels and determines the feasibility of providing the requested time, taking into account airfield capacity and airport passenger areas. If necessary, the system selects alternative departure times. Domodedovo remains the only airport in Moscow with a Level 2 slot coordination rating according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) classification: its airfield infrastructure allows DME to flexibly coordinate slots and offer airlines the most convenient times in terms of allocating all airport resources required by the carrier.
Next-generation dual-generator introscopes have been installed at the airport's entrances, allowing for the scanning of cargo up to 1 meter in width and height in just a few seconds. The introscope conveyor belts are located 35 cm above the floor, simplifying the loading of heavy and oversized items.
Domodedovo has equipped its airport checkpoints with laser breathalyzers. Employees working in the airport's controlled area (ACA) undergo mandatory contactless, remote, rapid alcohol intoxication testing. An electronic medical examination system (EMS) has been introduced for airport service employees handling vehicles in the ACA. The EMS device checks cardiac parameters, body temperature, and conducts drug testing. The system has streamlined the medical examination process, now taking only 1.5 minutes.
Educational projects and achievements
DME traditionally places special emphasis on employee development. In 2019, the airport was recognized as a leader in in-house training in the Forbes ranking of Russia's best employers.
A unique educational project—the DME Live Practice simulator—was recognized as the best project in the "Growth Point" category at the 2019 InterComm International Corporate Communications Awards.
For the first time, the airport joined the educational project for Moscow schoolchildren, "Technonavigator," as well as the social projects "Day Without Turnstiles" and "Children About Important Things."
Moscow Aerotropolis
At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2019), two agreements were signed between Domodedovo Airport, the Moscow Region government, and investors regarding the development of projects within the Moscow Aerotropolis.
One of the projects is the construction of a multifunctional year-round resort, "Tropical Island." Near Domodedovo Airport, infrastructure for a variety of leisure activities will be created, including a water park, tropical forest, beaches, a cinema, a planetarium, a fitness center, an ice rink, and much more.
Another project is the construction of a 148-room Holiday Inn hotel 8 km from the airport. The hotel will be part of a 20-hectare multifunctional complex, which will also include a shopping center, parking lots, and roadside service facilities.
Source: trn-news.ru