Brand New Modern Airport With Proud Cossack Name Unveiled in Rostov-on-Don

The long-awaited and important, for the entire Russian south, airport was opened today. It has a Cossack-style name, Platov.

Good news from Rostov-on-Don. The long-awaited and important, for the entire Russian south, airport was opened today. It has a Cossack-style name, Platov. Our correspondent Veronica Bogma on when will the new airport work according to a permanent schedule and on what's being built around it right before the FIFA World Cup.

A water arch is a classic aviator's ritual. Usually, it's used to greet a new flight or a plane. Today it hails an entire airport.

 

It wasn't reconstructed, but built from scratch in an open field. For the very first time in Russia's new history. The takeoff runway is suitable for all types of planes. In the future, they will land here every 3-5 minutes.

Two test flights took place today. Everything is fine. We'll see how it works. All the flights from the old airport will be redirected here in one day.

Maksim Sokolov, Minister for Transportation: "Passengers who buy tickets from both Russian and international airlines with the point of departure or destination in Rostov-on-Don on December 1 will, in fact, fly from the new terminal: Platov".

The new international airport was named after legendary Don hetman, Matvei Platov. It is beautiful and functional. It will become a real hub with a throughput of up to 5 million passengers a year.

Obviously, the maximum load peak will take place during the FIFA World Cup.

Reporter: "The brains of this whole complex are located here, in the air traffic control tower. Here's the Flight Control Officer's console. The safety standards here are very strict. You should talk in a whisper, remove mobile phones, and focus on your work".

There's the newest equipment. Air traffic controllers worked out the details in the new airport for a whole year.

Vladimir Guskov, chief operating manager: "Visibility is very nice, you can see perfectly how aircraft come in for a landing, land, take-off, and taxi".

This is a large infrastructure project and an example of a successful public-private partnership. Investments that will soon turn a profit.

Viktor Vekselberg, Renova Group Chairman of the Board: "This area allows us to develop. We're planning to build a big hotel complex, a logistics center that will give us a chance to develop other types of business and trade".

A new modern junction at the southern entrance to the city was opened today as a part of the FIFA World Cup preparations. It is located near the Rostov Arena where several matches will be played.

Veronica Bogma, Anton Kichidzhiyan, Denis Denisov, Vladimir Shimakov Anatoliy Nefedov and Yuri Zavyazkin, Vesti on Saturday, Rostov-on-Don