Russia’s top airport cuts costs as sanctions bite

MOSCOW, March 16, 2022 (AFP) – Russia’s largest international airport, Sheremetyevo in Moscow, said Wednesday it was cutting back its services after the country was isolated by Western sanctions and passenger numbers fell dramatically.

Traffic to and from the airport has been severely affected since Russia’s military operation in Ukraine began three weeks ago.

“Terminal E, Terminal D… and runway three have been temporarily put out of service, until passenger traffic and take-off and landing operations increase,” the airport said in a statement.

Sheremetyevo, the hub for Russian national carrier Aeroflot, said it would “suspend investment projects” and seek to “reduce costs”, while activity was low.

Airport management was working to maintain a “regular uninterrupted service in the current conditions” and prepare for the eventual resumption of normal activities.

The airport was “constantly monitoring the situation”, it said.

The European Union and a host of countries, including the United States, Britain and Canada have closed their airspace to Russian airlines.

Aeroflot suspended all its international flights from March 8.

The president of Sheremetyevo airport, Alexander Ponomarenko, also stood down after being targeted by EU sanctions.

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