Major International Airports in Russia
Russia has several major international airports, with Moscow and Saint Petersburg
being the most important. These airports serve as hubs for both domestic and
international flights, handling millions of passengers annually.
1. Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), Moscow
Sheremetyevo continues to be Russia’s largest and
busiest airport and a major global hub. In 2025, it
handled over 43 million passengers, a significant
increase over prior years.
Key Features of Sheremetyevo International Airport
Busiest airport in Russia with ~43.7M passengers in
2024.
- Serves as a hub for
Aeroflot, Rossiya Airlines, Nordwind, and Pegas
Fly.
- Six terminals and strong
global connectivity.
- Direct flights
worldwide (Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North
America)
- High-speed Aeroexpress
rail to the city centre.
2. Domodedovo International Airport (DME), Moscow
Domodedovo remains one of Moscow’s key airports but has seen
lower traffic recently.
Key Features of Domodedovo International Airport
Domodedovo International Airport is one of Moscow’s
major airports, known for its efficient operations and
connectivity to domestic and international destinations.
- One of Russia’s
busiest airports, serving millions of travellers
each year.
- Serves domestic,
European, and Asian destinations
- Popular for business
travel and regional connections
- Hub for S7 Airlines
and Ural Airlines.
- Connected to the city by
Aeroexpress trains, buses, and taxis, ensuring
easy access.
- Modern infrastructure and
reliable transport links.
3. Vnukovo International Airport (VKO), Moscow
Vnukovo International Airport remains one of Moscow’s main
airports, serving domestic and international flights. It is operated
by Vnukovo International Airport JSC and remains a significant hub
for low-cost carriers such as Pobeda Airlines. In
2025, Vnukovo’s passenger traffic was estimated at
about 16.5 million people, slightly higher than in 2024
and reflecting continued growth.
Key Features of Vnukovo International Airport (VKO)
- About ~16.5 million
passengers in 2025.
- One of Moscow’s major
hubs for Pobeda Airlines and other carriers.
- Strategic location with direct
access to central Moscow via road and Aeroexpress rail
connections.
- Offers modern terminals with
shopping, dining, lounges, and general passenger amenities.
- Supports both commercial and
private/VIP operations.
- Known for efficient
operations, including support in winter conditions.
4. Pulkovo International Airport (LED), Saint Petersburg
Pulkovo International Airport is the main international gateway for
Saint Petersburg. It remains Russia’s second-busiest
airport after Sheremetyevo, with a 2025 passenger count
of about 20.8-20.9 million, stable compared with
2024.
Key Features of Pulkovo International Airport
- About ~20.8 million
passengers in 2025.
- Major hub for Rossiya
Airlines.
- Direct flights to Europe,
Asia, the Middle East, and key Russian cities.
- Modern facilities, lounges,
duty-free dining, and transport connections.
- Provides easy access to Saint
Petersburg cultural and tourism destinations.
5. Koltsovo International Airport (SVX), Yekaterinburg
Koltsovo International Airport remains the main airport for
Yekaterinburg and the Ural region, connecting Russia to major
domestic and international destinations. The most recent figures
(2024) show it handled over 8 million passengers, and it is expected
to remain steady or grow modestly in 2025-2026.
Key Features of Koltsovo International Airport
- Koltsovo International Airport
is the largest airport in Russia’s Ural region, serving as
a key transit hub between Europe and Asia.
- ~8 million passengers.
- Offers flights to major
Russian cities and international destinations (e.g., Dubai,
Frankfurt, Beijing).
- Key gateway to the Ural region
for business, tourism, and cargo.
- Modern terminals with
duty-free lounges and services.
- Good transport links with
Yekaterinburg by taxi, bus, and rail.
Other Major Airports in Russia
Apart from the Moscow and Saint Petersburg airports, Russia has
several other important international airports:
|
Airport Name
|
City/Region
|
IATA Code
|
Annual Passenger Traffic
|
|
Kazan International Airport
|
Kazan
|
KZN
|
5.4M
|
|
Sochi International Airport
|
Sochi
|
AER
|
13.7M
|
|
Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport
|
Novosibirsk
|
OVB
|
9.3M
|
|
Vladivostok International Airport
|
Vladivostok
|
VVO
|
Traffic growing into 2026
|
|
Krasnoyarsk International Airport
|
Krasnoyarsk
|
KJA
|
4.3M
|
|
Ufa International Airport
|
Ufa
|
UFA
|
4-5M
|
|
Samara Kurumoch International Airport
|
Samara
|
KUF
|
~3.5M
|
|
Nizhny Novgorod Strigino Airport
|
Nizhny Novgorod
|
GOJ
|
~1.5-2M
|
|
Volgograd International Airport
|
Volgograd
|
VOG
|
~1M
|
|
Mineralnye Vody Airport
|
Stavropol Region
|
MRV
|
~3M
|
|
Irkutsk International Airport
|
Irkutsk
|
IKT
|
~3-4M
|
|
Ulan-Ude Airport
|
Buryatia
|
UUD
|
~0.6M
|
|
Chita Kadala Airport
|
Chita
|
HTA
|
~0.7M
|
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