Vnukovo Airport's operational status in severe weather conditions from 26-Dec to 29-Dec

Barring a few hours of flight operations based on current weather minima, Vnukovo International has continued to operate normally throughout this severe weather event.

An operational collapse has been averted thanks largely to timely and thorough preparations for winter navigation the Airport had made well in advance. There have been no power outages. The snow-removal operations on the Airport's aprons, runways and taxi strips have continued non-stop. Sufficient reserves of de-/anti icing fluids and agents ensured the continuity and punctuality in keeping snow-removal schedules as well as the timely prevention of ice and snow buildup on the Airpot's runways, which would have made further flight operations impossible. Around 50 crews manning more than 50 units of multifunctional snow-removal equipment have been deployed on the Airfield at all times

In spite of the fact of the tripled expenditure rate of aircraft de-/anti icing fluid, due to severe weather conditions, there have been no disruptions in its supply, since sufficient reserves of same had been made well in advance. By the present time the weather has improved, with the AC deicing fluid expenditure rate back to normal as well. All of the Airport's divisions and services have been operating cohesively and on time.

However, it was not posssible to altogether avoid flight delays. The causes of the most significant of those that lasted for several hours on end, were by and large the severe weather conditions at destination airports. The extended time-frame of aircraft deicing and snow and ice removal in the Airport's operating areas played a part also. On December 29 the Airport had to call a temporary half-an-hour halt on flight operations to complete the cycle of snow and ice removal on its airfield. But thanks to the all-out effort and determination on the part of the airport staff , flight delays have been kept to a minimum and the situation involving passengers having to spend days on end in air terminals or on board aircraft averted outright. Furthermore, over these last four days Vnukovo International - in addition to its own flights - has handled 28 diverted aircraft bringing in over 1500 passengers.

The atmosphere in the Airport's passenger terminals has remained calm, professional, and welcoming at all times, since the air travelers had little to worry or trouble them. Whenever flight delays occurred, the air carriers would come through on their obligations in strict compliance with the law, by providing their passengers with hot meals, potable water and hotel accommodations in the rare event of a flight delay exceeding a total of eight hours.

Furthermore, particular effort has been made to keep all our passengers well informed of the Airport's operational status at any given time, and not only via the FIDS (Flight Information Display System), recorded announcements and the Airport's Inquiries & Referrals Desk, but also with the help of the Vnukovo Intl. Press Service which every few hours has been posting press releases, airport operational status and visibility, as well as flight operations updates on the Airport's official website, and Vnukovo International's page on facebook.com. All of the above (with extensive commentary) would also be sent out to a vast number of mass media outlets on a regular basis. Despite the fact of Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo Airports' topping all the newslines due to a crisis that affected them, Vnukovo International's stable and undisrupted operation received a regular mention as well.

Both our men and equipment have been working flat out during these past few days, but it was thanks to their effort and sheer determination that Vnukovo International could continue operating with no disruptions to its schedule as well as to our passengers' Holiday Season plans.