Due to the Russian economic growth, the number of business people and tourists at the Moscow airport Sheremetyevo-2 has increased dramatically.

The maximum capacity of country’s  eldest international airport has been reached. End of 2009, the fast-growing city in Eastern Europe is getting a new airport terminal – realised in record time.

Sheremetyevo-2 is the home airport of the largest Russian airline Aeroflot and is located some 30 kilometers from the center of Moscow. It is Aeroflot’s starting point to all international destinations in Europe, Asia, America and Africa. Moreover, about 70 airlines from all over the world are served here and so it became one of Russia‘s main international airports.

The international airport (its national counterpart is called Sheremetyevo-1) was built for the Summer Olympics in 1980. Since that time, there were no renovations or changes, this is why the airport currently is out of date.

Takeoffs and landings at Scheremetjevo-2 take place every minute and approximately 2,100 passengers pass per hour through the old terminal. But not only the crowds bring the airport to its limits: The technical building equipment and the necessary systems for modern airport operations are considered outdated.

HOCHTIEF Construction modernizes and expands as a general contractor and planner the terminal of Sheremetyevo-2 in accordance with international standards. Also the new train station was completed in June 2008: Within only 12 months the construction was finished.

To realize both projects with ongoing airport operation is a logistical, technological and human challenge.

The staff of HOCHTIEF Construction can benefit from its expertise in airport construction: Terminal C was realized by HOCHTIEF Construction in Sheremetyevo-1 a year and a half ago.

The construction company is creating the western extension of the terminal turn-key-ready: Everything is in the hands of HOCHTIEF Construction - from the interior concrete work to the technical building equipment.

The new terminal will have a high level of comfort: In addition to a business lounge with private VIP area, there will be a multitude of restaurants and shops, as well as enough space for the staff of the various airport services.

HOCHTIEF Construction has worked together in a partnership with the client, even before construction began after the so-called PreFair model. This made it possible to find sustainable environmentally friendly and cost-saving solutions.

The forest around the terminal has been secured so that no trees on the site have to be cut. Furthermore, the new electrical system meets up to the latest technological standards and also saves energy.

The completion of the terminal with eight gates, a baggage handling system, and numerous safety devices is scheduled for late 2009.

Since June 2008, passengers can - thanks to the new train station built by HOCHTIEF Construction – go to the city center of Moscow via express train connection. Before, passengers had to take taxis or buses, now they are within only 35 minutes in the city center. In the first three weeks, already 35,000 people made use oft he so called Aeroexpress-Trains.

The railway station also includes a five-floor office building and a parking garage with about 500 parking spaces.

In order to make the roof more transparent, a polycarbonate coating, similar to Plexiglas, was chosen instead of a heavy steel construction. By this, also costs were optimized.

The ongoing construction takes place during 24 hours, seven days a week. Exact scheduling, optimal management of interfaces, and last but not least a very good cooperation between German and Russian engineers made the project possible.

The enlarged terminal is going to be ready in December 2009. Then, additional 1,600 passengers per hour can be processed.