During a working trip to the Odesa region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy got himself acquainted with the implementation of the project of reconstruction and construction of the aerodrome complex of Odesa International Airport.
Minister of Infrastructure Vladyslav Krykliy noted that the new runway of Odesa airport is 2,800 meters long and 45 meters wide. The new aerodrome will be able to accommodate category D medium-range and long-haul aircraft, such as the ICAO Category III Boeing-747-400/800, as well as other aircraft with a capacity of up to 300 passengers. The total cost of the aerodrome reconstruction project is UAH 3.9 billion.
The Minister of Infrastructure added that due to the new runway the airport will be able to receive more than 2 million passengers a year, and after the construction of a new taxiway - more than 5 million passengers.
The Head of State asked whether there is a demand among passengers to build a new runway at the airport.
"Of course, there is a demand, because Odesa is a tourist city, it is developing. This year, the “Travel Ukraine” program was launched, and Odesa received too many passengers, even despite the coronavirus challenges we face today," the Minister of Infrastructure said.
Vladyslav Krykliy noted that after the reconstruction, the old runway will stop working.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked about the certification of the new runway. The Minister of Infrastructure noted that permits for the operation of the runway are to be received in October. The runway is to be commissioned by the end of 2020.
Vladyslav Krykliy also said that in the future the length of the runway may be increased to 3,200 meters.
"Then we will be able to work with aircraft of any type," he said.
The Head of State asked whether the work on the completion of the third stage of the reconstruction of the runway was sufficiently funded.
"We had an agreement that we will have a construction map with the timing for all airports in Ukraine. Is this stage planned there?” Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked.
According to Vladyslav Krykliy, the project of building a new taxiway is ready and it is planned to spend more than 900 million hryvnias on it, which should be included in the budget. The general contractor of the construction noted that the third stage of construction will be completed eight months after receiving the funds.
"Check this in order not to forget such things. This is important," the President stressed, addressing the Minister of Infrastructure.
In addition, Volodymyr Zelensky asked whether the light signaling equipment was installed on the new runway.
"It is important that the meteorological equipment here will allow planes to land even in the fog. This is very important," the Minister of Infrastructure noted.
A new airport terminal, designed to accommodate three million passengers a year, was also shown to the President.
