Russian cargo airport planned

A near €10 billion project to build a cargo airport and multimodal logistics complex is being planned for Efremov in Russia's Tula province, south of Moscow.

It is thought the project may cost in the region of €8 to 9.6 billion, out of which the runway and airport facilities would account for €800 to 960 million. The remainder would be used for the construction of logistics facilities, an oil refinery, and other industrial and commercial properties.

The province's governor has said the complex could take part in the future transportation of goods over the North Pole, and it is expected that the airport would be used as a spare facility for Moscow airports.

At the moment, aircraft unable to land in Moscow because of bad weather are directed to Nizhny Novgorod or St Petersburg, from where the land route to Moscow then takes 5 to 6 hours. It is being suggested that the new airport could be used, as the journey to Moscow takes between 1 and 2 hours.