Pulkovo Airport

Pulkovo Airport
Name	Pulkovo Airport
IATA	LED
ICAO	ULLI
Owner	Northern Capital Gateway
Operator	Northern Capital Gateway
City-served	Saint Petersburg
Location	Saint Petersburg
Elevation-f	79
Elevation-m	24
Coordinates	59, 48, 01, N...
Website	https://www.pulkovoairport.ru/
R1-number	10R/28L
R1-length-m	3,780
R1-length-f	12,402
R1-surface	Asphalt
R2-number	10L/28R
R2-length-m	3,397
R2-length-f	11,145
R2-surface	Asphalt
Stat-year	2023
Stat1-header	Passengers
Stat1-data	20.1 million
Stat2-header	Aircraft movements
Stat2-data	176,000
Footnotes	Sources: Federal Air Transport Agency

Pulkovo Airport is the primary international airport serving Saint Petersburg, Russia, and a major hub for air travel in the Northwestern Federal District. Located approximately 23 kilometers south of the city center, it is named after the nearby Pulkovo Heights and the historic Pulkovo Observatory. The airport operates as a key gateway to Russia's second-largest city, handling over 20 million passengers annually and serving as a base for several airlines, including Rossiya Airlines.

History

The airport's origins trace back to 1931 when the Shosseynaya Airport began operations, initially serving as a base for the Soviet Air Forces and later for civilian flights. During the Siege of Leningrad, the airfield was a critical lifeline, part of the Road of Life that supplied the besieged city. It was renamed in 1953 to honor the nearby Pulkovo Heights, site of a pivotal 1941 battle during World War II. A major expansion in the 1970s led to the opening of Pulkovo-1 for domestic flights and Pulkovo-2 for international traffic, designed by architect Alexander Zhuk. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the airport underwent significant modernization, culminating in a large-scale redevelopment project that opened a new terminal in 2014, managed by the consortium Northern Capital Gateway.

Facilities

The airport complex centers on a single, modern passenger terminal, Terminal 1, which consolidates all domestic and international operations. The terminal features three concourses and is capable of handling up to 17 million passengers per year, with design elements reflecting the architectural heritage of Saint Petersburg. Key facilities include numerous duty-free shops, lounges operated by S7 Airlines and Aeroflot, and a business aviation center. The airfield operates two parallel runways equipped with Category III instrument landing system (ILS) capabilities, allowing operations in low-visibility conditions. Cargo operations are supported by facilities for airlines like AirBridgeCargo Airlines and Volga-Dnepr Airlines.

Airlines and destinations

Pulkovo serves as a focus city for Rossiya Airlines and a base for Nordwind Airlines and Smartavia. It offers an extensive network across Russia, with major domestic routes to Moscow served by Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, and Ural Airlines. International connectivity spans destinations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, with carriers such as Air France, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and China Southern Airlines. Seasonal charter flights are also operated by companies including Azur Air to popular holiday destinations.

Statistics

In 2023, Pulkovo Airport handled approximately 20.1 million passengers, maintaining its position as the third-busiest airport in Russia after Sheremetyevo International Airport and Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow. The airport recorded around 176,000 aircraft movements during the same period. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger traffic had shown consistent growth, exceeding 19 million in 2019. The top international destinations typically include cities like Istanbul, Dubai, and Antalya, while the busiest domestic route is consistently to the Moscow area airports.

Ground transportation

The airport is connected to Saint Petersburg by multiple transport options. The Kievskaya suburban railway station, linked to the terminal by a shuttle bus, provides direct rail service to the city's Baltiysky railway station. Public bus and marshrutka (minibus) routes, such as bus 39, offer direct connections to Moskovskaya metro station. Taxi services are widely available, and the airport is accessible via the Saint Petersburg Ring Road and the E95 highway, which connects to the city center and other regions like Novgorod Oblast.

Accidents and incidents

The airport has witnessed several notable aviation incidents. On April 23, 1973, a Tupolev Tu-104 operating Aeroflot Flight 2424 crashed on approach, resulting in fatalities. A significant disaster occurred on October 20, 1986, when a Tupolev Tu-134 on Aeroflot Flight 6502 crashed short of the runway due to pilot error. More recently, on December 25, 2016, a Tupolev Tu-204 operated by Red Wings Airlines overran the runway after landing, sustaining substantial damage but no fatalities. These events have contributed to safety improvements in Russian aviation procedures and infrastructure.

Category:Airports in Russia Category:Transport in Saint Petersburg Category:Buildings and structures in Saint Petersburg