The brand new Pulkovo 3 International airport terminal was opened on December 4th, 2013 in St Petersburg. Construction began in 2011 and cost approximately 1.2 billion euros. The new terminal is expected to increase passenger turnover to 17 million people by 2020. It is also anticipated that Pulkovo 3 will operate flights of 32 foreign and 21 Russian domestic airlines making it the third busiest airport in Russia after Domodedovo and Sheremetievo in Moscow.
Designed by Grimshaw Architects, the modern terminal occupies an area of 150,000 meters. It is considered to be one of the best equipped airports in Russia. Here are some useful numbers which show the grandeur (vastness) of the project: 14 boarding bridges, 110 passport control booths, 88 check-in desks and 7 carousels.
In addition, Pulkovo 3 has a business center, a multilevel parking lot for 560 places, restaurants and shops. Good news for art lovers too – architects took care of the airport interior! Four sculptures of angels with airplane wings from the series ”Believe in Angels” by Dmitiy Shorin were installed in the lobby.
Though it was planned to switch all the flights for Russian airline “Rossiya” to the new terminal, only six flights will be served on the first day. This means that for a transition period all three terminals of the airport will be used. In this case ”Northern Capital Gateway” – an international consortium that controls the airport activity – recommends to check your flight before departure to ensure which terminal your flight will use. In addition, the company employees will be standing in the airport and holding signs ”Ask me” to assist passengers in finding their way around. Anyway there is no need to worry! Pulkovo 3 is situated just 200 meters from Pulkovo 1 and there will be shuttle buses from Pulkovo 2 to the new terminal.