Kharkiv airport opened the first in the history of independent Ukraine modern terminal of the European level, ready to receive guests of Euro 2012.
The new terminal of Kharkiv airport is not just the first one for our country, but three times first. Just think of it, but the last of the regional air terminal in Ukraine was opened in the mid eighties of the last century! Therefore, the new Kharkiv terminal can rightly be considered the first in the history of our independence. In addition, the first airport terminal was built entirely for funds from private investors - a major Ukrainian businessman Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy, invested in building 55 million dollars. And finally, Kharkiv terminal - the first delivered key transport object in the preparation program for Euro 2012. "FACTS" journalists have visited the opening of the airport and became its first passengers.
Viktor Yanukovych: "This is an example of how we can develop our country."
Landing at the airport Kharkiv now is no different from the arrival in any major European city. Until the plane rolls over the strip, we see in windows almost entirely glassed terminal. Nearby, surrounded by beautiful fir - a former airport terminal, built in the Stalin era. We are not even talking comparisons here. It seems that someone parked the first "Moskvich" as a joke, and just made luxury car of Mercedes dealership of executive class.
At the opening ceremony of the terminal arrived Viktor Yanukovych. Addressing the gathered on the square at the airport Kharkiv citizens, Head of State stressed the importance for the East of Ukraine the creation of modern "air gates", having the opportunity to take a large number of passengers.
- The terminal is a symbol of the beginning of this most interesting region of Ukraine - Slobozhanshchina. UAH 433 million - it is actually means of a private investment of company headed by Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy. This is an example of how we can develop our country - said Viktor Yanukovych.
Martin Kallen, director of Euro 2012 didn`t hide his emotions from what he has seen. "Very well - he said - that's all done in a timely manner, the promises are made, and that's good, that a new terminal opened. I think it's a very nice airport and it will change the life of the city. A lot of people will be arriving to Kharkiv, and it's great .
The main hero of the occasion was the president of DCH, the general investor and coordinator of Kharkiv's preparations for Euro-2012 Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy began his speech to reporters with the words of gratitude.
- I want, - said Mr. Yaroslavskyy - to thank everyone who participated in today's event - our president, Viktor Yanukovych, Boris Kolesnikov, Mikhail Dobkin, Kharkiv citizens, city guests. I hope that this terminal will be dear for all of us. From our side we have done everything possible so that it appeared, we have put our soul in it. Special thanks to our Kharkiv builders. In less than two years on the wasteland they have built the terminal of the European class. And they did everything for two months ahead of schedule.
Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy, who invested in the preparation of Kharkiv for Euro-2012 over two billion, as always, was not talking about himself but about others. While everyone who knew little about the process of creating a terminal inside, understood that without the iron will of this man, terrific performance and daily control over all occurring at the airport work of creating such a grand subject, even if the state haв given the necessary funds, it would be unlikely possible. As well as reconstruction of the Metalist stadium, building of children's football academy and complete overhaul of the training base of FC Metalist, where during the tournament will live one of the teams participating would be hardly possible.
The terminal inside has made us even more impressed than the outside. Struck by the abundance of light and space, excellent quality matched with great taste in decorating, well thought-out plan up to the smallest detail. Airport representatives explained that the design of the terminal building has been done by well-known German company with experience of creating more than a dozen similar facilities in Europe. One of the last works of Germans - the new terminal at Heathrow Airport in London. But bringing the project to completion, as well as all construction work were done by Kharkiv specialists. In this sense the project was useful for Kharkiv in two ways - besides the new terminal, the local construction industry has received a lot of jobs, as well as invaluable experience in the construction of objects of this class.
Technical "stuffing" of the airport, according to construction managers, meets the highest international standards. For example, the baggage handling system with capacity of 960 units per hour for international and 600 units per hour for domestic flights Kharkiv team purchased from the world leader in the field of Vanderlande Industries. In a terminal were installed the Swiss, the most modern of the existing control systems of passenger and freight traffic. However, in one Kharkiv have even surpassed its foreign colleagues. The ceiling of the terminal for the beauty was decided to do with a stylish drop ceiling, that even in the modern Western airports is fairly rare.
The new runway will allow Kharkiv to take heavier aircraft type Airbus A-320 and Boeing B-737.
According to Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy, after the opening of the terminal, the work in the airport will continue. First, they need to complete the construction of a new runway. It will be 300 meters longer than the currently existing one. Carrying capacity of its coverage will significantly increase also. This will allow Kharkiv to take heavier aircraft ships class Airbus A-320 and Boeing B-737. The construction of new taxiways is also provided. Another important part of the airport - apron for aircrafts is located directly in front of the terminal. Today it is almost completely ready.
The new runway is being constructed next to the existing one. Thus, the airport during the reconstruction of its airfield part will continue to operate, which will save the town from serious disadvantages. In addition, the old runway will be needed in the time of the matches of Euro 2012, when within five or six hours of Kharkiv will need to accept and place about 25 thousand passengers, and it's 100-120 aircrafts.
Among the agenda's objectives is the creation of yet another temporary terminal. During the European football championship it will be used to increase airport capacity, and then the building will serve as a hangar. Kharkiv won`t forget about the infrastructure near the stadium. This applies both to the parking at the terminal and access roads to the airport.
The process of reconstruction will affect the old terminal. Preserving the historical heritage of the first capital of Ukraine has become one of the distinguishing features of all Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy`s projects. So it was during the construction of Metalist stadium when the historic rotunda was saved and restored. The same, according to the general investor, happened in the case of the former terminal, which was famous for its murals in the waiting room.
- Once fully launched the new terminal, we will begin reconstruction of the old one, - said Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy. – It would cost about five or six million dollars. This will be a unique object. We will retain the style of historic buildings dating back to the Stalin era. However, we`ll modernize it.
Half of the building, according to Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy, takes hall for VIP-persons, and in the other there will be once existed vintage-style restaurant.
"When I saw the joy of Kharkiv citizens, I realized that this terminal has already paid off for me."
By opening a new terminal Kharkov airport will not only be able at least to quadruple the number of passengers, but also be able to offer travelers the European service. The appearance of a new runway will make the landing at the Kharkiv airport more comfortable and safe. Kharkiv citizens are sure that all of these factors can not fail to attract international airlines in Kharkiv.
- Now from Kharkiv you can fly in a few cities - Vienna, Moscow, Tbilisi, Yerevan - told Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy to reporters. - But in the near future we plan to open flights to the most popular routes for Kharkiv citizens - in Italy, Germany, Istanbul.
According to airport managers, talks about the new flights are conducted not only with representatives of major companies such as Lufthansa, but also with so-called low-cost carriers such as Wizzair, in fact they are able to give a strong impetus to the development of mass air travel in the region.
In the evening at the opening of the new terminal, Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy made a grand concert, which lasted almost seven hours in a row and ended with a stunning fireworks display! On the square in front of the airport gathered tens of thousands of Kharkiv citizens. Calculate the exact number was impossible, because due to heavy rain and severe thunderstorms people did not watch entire concert. Many of them saw a new terminal for the first time and were truly amazed with such a tremendous gift. According to experts, the first profit the terminal will not be soon. By the most optimistic forecasts, the investment will be recouped only during 15-17, and even after 20 years of operation. For comparison: the opening in major cities of shopping malls, business investment return in a few years.
To a question about his reasons for such strange terms of ROI Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy responded philosophically: "Not everything in life is measured with money. When I saw the joy with which Kharkiv citizens meet the new terminal, they are proud of their city, of the first in Ukraine received "air gates" of world class, I realized that this terminal has already paid off for me."
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