Russia's Krasnoyarsk International Airport, the Volga-Dnepr Group, and Krasnoyarsk region — which covers Central and eastern Siberia — have inked a deal aimed to build up the gateway as an international logistics hub.

The move comes as the airport saw a five-fold increase in cargo throughput last year, prompted by the rise in demand throughout the pandemic.

The deal covers the opening of the international postal center at Krasnoyarsk Airport, as well as cargo customs facilities and a mail customs checkpoint to promote a "seamless" cargo clearance in the gateway — with expectations that the airport will eventually act as a major logistics hub for the development of cross-regional and international cargo operations.

It will then facilitate the introduction of new logistics and transport modes with the plan anticipated to bring in around US$3.6 million worth of economic benefit to the region.

Alexander Uss, governor of the Krasnoyarsk region, noted that the Krasnoyarsk region and the airport have been cooperating with Volga-Dnepr for a very long time.

"The most significant practical effect our region felt during last year when the pandemic hit. Cargo transportations performed by Volga-Dnepr Group have impacted the finance and economic results of the airport and it were the group that enabled stable operations of Krasnoyarsk air hub," Uss said last week.

International cargo hub

He noted that Volga-Dnepr has also introduced the sterile or clean airport initiative at the gateway — becoming among the few Russian airports offering this service which pushed the volume of cargo carried to/from the airport higher.

"Today, Krasnoyarsk region with the support of its long-standing aviation partner has made a step towards the creation of an international cargo hub. The cargo center which is to be based here will make Krasnoyarsk one of the strongest airports in Russia, the economic driver of the region and Siberia," Uss added.

Meanwhile, Alexey Isaykin, partner and chairman of the board at  Volga-Dnepr Group, said 2020 revealed the untapped potential of the gateway.

"We have been operating through Krasnoyarsk for many years. However, 2020 was an exceptional year and it also demonstrated that the airport potential has not been unleashed to a full extent," he said.

"We have had a five-fold increase of cargo carried to/from and through Krasnoyarsk and the airport services coped with all the operations, with a major part of the work being done by liveware not only by hardware and software," Isaykin added.

"The airport demonstrated that it could provide high-quality services and keep on increasing the volumes. The major contributing commodities have been PPE, medical products, and equipment, as the group has been carrying out an important rescue mission for our customers across Russia and beyond. [We] see further potential for development."

Andrey Metzler, general director of Krasnoyarsk Airport noted that the gateway is capable of increasing its passenger and cargo operations.

"The runway and infrastructure allow us to handle various types of planes with the provision of high-quality services," he said.

The official signing of the deal took place earlier this week at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum from June 2-5.