State could seize Moscow’s biggest airport

A court decision has thrown into doubt the ownership of Domodedovo Airport in southern Moscow. Privately owned East Line is accused of illegally acquiring the facility a decade ago.

The court ruling came into effect on March 20, following legal action by the Federal Property Agency. East Line now fears it may lose the rights to its property – Russia’s biggest and most modern international airport.

The East Line group privatised the airport in the 1990s and spent more than a $US 1 billion on building a new terminal and refurbishing what was already there.

Domodedovo has been rated as the best airport in Eastern Europe by the Airports Council International.