Moscow’s three international airports have long been in competition to attract client airlines. Now airlines are looking to create hubs with alliance partners, thus hoping to improve airport infrastructure.
Moscow's Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports have been battling to attract airlines in Russia's booming air travel market. Lufthansa is currently the number one foreign airline in terms of Russian passenger traffic, with nine destinations and over 120 flights to and from Russia. On April 1 it moved its operations from Sheremetyevo to Domodedovo airport. Domodedovo is Russia's largest airport in terms of both cargo and passenger traffic with 18.76 million passengers in 2007 – up 22% from the year before. The creation of airport hubs seems to be putting an end to the so-called “airport war” in Moscow, with airlines working with their partners to establish more efficient centres for terminal and transfer travel. As foreign carriers are presented with more options in the capital’s airports, they’re searching for those with the best infrastructure, in the hope of attracting vital passengers in a market with shrinking margins.