Nizhny Novgorod Airport named best in Russia

The Nizhny Novgorod International Airport was named the best airport in Russia in terms of passenger traffic. The title was awarded to the airport of Nizhny Novgorod as a result of the meeting held in Samara. The meeting was devoted to the development of the transport system of the Volga Federal District. Russia's Minister for Transport Maxim Sokolov said that the Nizhny Novgorod Airport doubled the number of routes without subsidies from the government.

In the first quarter,the inflow of passengers at the airport increased by 90 percent, which marked the best result in the country. The governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region Valery Shantsev believes that if the price level of airplane tickets is closer to the price of train tickets, many people will prefer to travel by aircraft. However, government subsidies from the federal budget, which could help reduce the cost of air travel, make up only 170 million rubles for 14 territories of the Volga Federal District.

"We will certainly work in this direction, since flying from Nizhny Novgorod via Moscow to Saratov is extremely uncomfortable. Above all, there should be demand on the routes, and ticket prices should not be biting", summed up Shantsev.

Deputy presidential aide in the Volga Federal District (PFD), Galina Izotova said that the fourth quarter of 2012 would see the beginning of the project to establish regional aviation in the PFD. "We have been working on this program for several months. The program for the development of regional aviation has been presented today. The Minister for Transport supported this program. We have seen the positive attitude to the program from almost all its participants," the official said.

The regions supported the scheme of the joint subsidy program, including on the regional level. The work on the program should be continued for its successful implementation. "The government should approve the adequate decree. Obviously, it will be impossible to implement the program without the support from federal and regional authorities. Also, one should introduce amendments to regional budgets," summarized Galina Izotova.