Vnukovo International Airport

Vnukovo International Airport (ВНК, VKO, UUWW) is a large airport with two runways in Vnukovo District, about 28 km southwest of Moscow, Russia. It is one of the main airports for people traveling to and from Moscow, along with Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky.

In 2019, many people used the airport. After some changes happened because of world events, the number of travelers went down for a time. By 2025, Vnukovo became one of the busiest airports in Russia and the Post-Soviet states and one of the busiest in Europe. The airport is also called "Vnukovo Andrei Tupolev International Airport" to honor Andrei Tupolev.

History

Vnukovo is Moscow's oldest airport. It started during the Second World War for military use but later became a place for civilian flights. The Soviet government approved its construction in 1937 because an older airport nearby was too busy.

Important moments in Vnukovo's history include the first passenger flight of the Tupolev Tu-104 jetliner in 1956 and the first flights of the IL-18 and Tu-114 in the 1950s and 1960s. The airport grew for the 22nd Summer Olympic Games in 1980 and became a company in 1993.

Big changes started in 2003. New Terminal B opened in 2004, and an express rail link began in 2005. Terminal A opened in 2010, and by 2016, all flights moved there, closing Terminal B. Today, Vnukovo is very busy for international flights by private planes.

Location and capacity

Vnukovo International Airport is one of the main airports serving Moscow, Russia. It is the highest of Moscow’s three big airports, which helps it stay open when foggy conditions affect others. The airport has two long runways and can handle many airplanes each hour.

The airport has two passenger terminals, a special area for important visitors, and many spots where airplanes can park. It can welcome over ten thousand travelers every hour and employs thousands of people. Special facilities at the airport are sometimes used by leaders and important guests from around the world.

Further expansion

The plans for Vnukovo International Airport were to go on until 2015. The aim was to make Vnukovo a very important airport for travel around the world. It would offer many good services for travelers and airlines.

A new international passenger terminal is planned to be very large, with space for 7,800 people each hour. This would allow up to 18 to 20 million travelers each year. The new terminal will be built where the old domestic terminal is now. The oldest terminal, which opened in 1941, will be removed before the new one is built. The existing domestic terminal from the 1970s will stay open until the new terminal is finished.

The airport also plans to make one of its runways longer and improve landing systems. New roads for planes, a new control tower, and more parking will also be added.

Terminals

Terminal A is used for both domestic and international flights. Terminals B and D stopped being used in October 2017.

Airlines and destinations

Vnukovo International Airport is a busy place where many airplanes land and take off. It is one of the four main airports that help people travel to and from Moscow, Russia. In 2019, more than 24 million passengers used the airport. The airport has two runways and serves many airlines from all over the world.

Statistics

Annual traffic

Ground transportation

Rail

Before July 31, 2024, there was a direct train called Aeroexpress that went from Vnukovo Airport to Kiyevsky Rail Terminal in Moscow city centre. This service started in August 2005. From August 1, 2024, the train line is now run only by the Central Suburban Passenger Company.

Bus

You can take buses to get to Moscow city. The Mosgortrans bus lines include route 611, which stops at two stations (Troparyovo and Yugo-Zapadnaya) on the Moscow Metro Sokolnicheskaya Line. There is also route 611k, which only stops at the Salaryevo station on the same metro line and avoids busy traffic on the MKAD road. A trip costs 50 rubles and takes between 20 to 35 minutes. There is also a private bus line called marshrutka route 45, costing 150 rubles and taking from 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic.

Taxi

You can find several taxi services at the airport to travel to Moscow city and the suburbs. Companies like Uber, Gett, Yandex.Taxi, and local transportation network companies offer fixed-price trips anywhere in Moscow.

Metro

Since September 6, 2023, the airport is served by the "Aeroport Vnukovo" Metro station, which is the end point of Moscow Metro Line 8a (Kalininsko-Solntsevskaya Line).

Other facilities

Before, a company called Vnukovo Airlines had its main office at the airport.

Ownership

Vnukovo International Airport is owned by the Russian government and a businessman named Vitaly Vantsev and his partners. In March 2018, Qatar Airways said they wanted to buy a part of the airport.