Experts from the General Authority of Civil Aviation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have studied the work of the Aviation Security Service of Vnukovo International Airport. The visit took place as a part of the implementation of the decision of the President of the Russian Federation on the opening air services between the two countries. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Arab country and the Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia also took part in the work.
The guests assessed the measures taken to ensure the safety of arriving and departing passengers, as well as the work of the airport as a whole. In particular, they familiarised themselves with the pre-flight inspection procedures, studied the work of checkpoints, checked the aircraft inspection sequence, visited the check-in area, the departure area and other places where security officers work. They also studied the process of cargo, mail and in-flight supplies inspection.
According to the results of the work, the guests from the Kingdom noted the comprehensive approach to security at Vnukovo International Airport and gave a positive assessment of the high level of passenger transport security.
A return visit of Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia representatives to Saudi airports is planned in the near future. At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry is negotiating with its Saudi counterparts on the introduction of a visa-free regime in view of the growing flow of tourist between the two countries. For instance, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation estimates that the number of tourists from Saudi Arabia to Russia has increased by 11% this year.
Vnukovo International Airport is one of the largest air transportation hubs in Russia, handling about 200 thousand flights of Russian and foreign carriers every year. The airport’s route network covers the entire territory of Russia, as well as countries around the world. In 2019, Vnukovo International Airport broke a historical record and served more than 24 million passengers. The airport complex with a total area of about 300 thousand square meters has a capacity of up to 35 million passengers per year. Vnukovo International Airport, as the only one among the airports in Russia, has received the gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin for work achievements and high results in professional activities. In addition, Vnukovo Airport has been recognized as the best airport in the highest category «International Airport» of the national award «Air Gates of Russia» (part of the National Aviation Infrastructure Show, NAIS) for three years in a row.
