Performance Review of Airports of Regions MC during 2018 FIFA World Cup

Airports of Regions Management Company summarized its performance during the 2018 FIFA World Cup period. The overall passenger traffic in Holding’s airports in Ekaterinburg, Samara, Rostov-on-Don and Nizhniy Novgorod during matches in these cities was over 1.158 mln individuals. Extra traffic in above airports was over 300 k passengers (+35% against the like period of 2017).

Passenger traffic of domestic flights in four airports of the Holding totaled 788 k individuals (+46%) during the World Cup. Over 370 k (+26%) individuals took advantage of international routes within the World Cup period.

Airports of Regions serviced in total over 1,300 extra flights (arrivals and departures) carrying organized groups of fans and participating teams, net of business jets. Traveling by regular flights between cities hosting the World Cup became key drivers of passenger traffic growth in Ekaterinburg, Samara, Rostov-on-Don and Nizhniy Novgorod.

 Airports of Regions for the first time in its history serviced such air carriers as Egypt Air, Jordan Aviation, Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana, Korean Air, SAS - Scandinavian Airlines System, Air Serbia, Swiss International Air Lines, and WOW Air during matches.

“Our airports faced major peak loads and repeatedly updated daily passenger traffic records during the 2018 World Cup,” says Denis Bukin, Chief Operating Officer of Airports of Regions MC. “No failures have occurred during the World Cup owing to concerted work of airport teams and the infrastructure prepared in advance,” he adds.

Koltsovo International Airport (Ekaterinburg) serviced 429.4 k passengers from June 12 to 30, up 68.3 k or 19% against the like period of the last year. Domestic passenger traffic was 273 k passengers (+28%) and international one was 156.4 k (+6%). The all-time high daily passenger traffic was recorded on June 27. Koltsovo Airport serviced 28,066 individuals during the match day of Swedish and Mexican teams. The highest daily passenger traffic was updated three times in total during the World Cup days. Cairo deserves a special notice among international destinations. 993 passengers were serviced in this destination. These were not merely first flights from Ekaterinburg to Egypt after closing of air communications between the two countries but also first flights between Ekaterinburg and Cairo in modern history.

Kurumoch International Airport (Samara) serviced 349.5 k passengers from June 11 to July 8, which is 101 k (+40%) above the like period of the last year. Domestic passenger traffic was 244.7 k passengers (+56%) and international traffic was 104.8 k passengers (+27%). The all-time high daily passenger traffic was registered on July 2, when teams of Brazil and Mexico played in the last sixteen round in Samara. Operating units of the Airport provided services to 18.4 k passengers on that day. The record of takeoff and landing operations was noted on June 25, when the Russian team played in Samara. Airplanes took off and landed 181 times on the day, which is twice more than on June 25, 2017 and three times higher than in 2016. Such indicators became the absolute record in modern history of the Samara Airport.

Platov International Airport (Rostov-on-Don) serviced 257.8 k passengers from June 14 to July 3, 2018, which is 87 k (+51%) higher on an annualized basis. Domestic passenger traffic was 187.6 k passengers (+56%) and international traffic totaled 70.2 k passengers (+39%). The all-time high daily passenger traffic was recorded on June 23, 2018. The Platov Airport serviced 19.7 k individuals and 212 flights on the day of the match between teams of Mexico and the Republic of Korea, which is 2 times above the standard load in summer season. We would like to note specifically that the passenger traffic in the VIP terminal of the Platov Airport increased significantly. 1,105 passengers took advantage of the VIP terminal during the period of group stage and the last sixteen matches of the World Cup, which is 4 times above the like period of the last year.

Strigino International Airport (Nizhniy Novgorod) serviced 121.9 k passengers from June 17 to July 7. This is 44 k individuals or 57% above the like-for-like period in the last year. Domestic passenger traffic was 83 k passengers (+71%) and international traffic amounted to 38.9 k passengers (+33%). The all-time high daily passenger traffic was recorded on June 22. The Strigino Airport serviced 9,500 individuals on the next day after the match between teams of Croatia and Argentina. The highest daily passenger traffic was updated three times in total during the World Cup days. Stockholm should be particularly noted among international destinations of Strigino. 2,500 passengers were serviced for this destination.

16.07.2018