Russia's second biggest city will play host to the country's debut summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations in July and Transportation Minister Igor Levitin, St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko and other officials attended the opening of the second landing strip at Pulkovo airport.
The Russian government allocated 3 billion rubles ($110 million) last year to modernize and widen the runway to receive airliners with a weight of over 300 tons. The runway stretches for four kilometers (about 2.5 miles) and is 70 meters (230 feet) wide. It will also get a Category III certification from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which allows the airport to receive planes in severe weather conditions.
"The reconstruction of the runway is a turning point in the life of the airport," Matviyenko said. "From now on, we will be able to receive planes of different classes in various weather conditions."
The city will have to accept large planes, such as U.S. President George Bush's Air Force One, when the leaders of the club of rich countries arrive on July 15-17. The presidents and prime ministers of Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, as well as European Union officials, will also be arriving in St. Petersburg to join President Putin for Russia's debut G8 summit.
"We will host an important international event, the [G8] summit, and now can ensure absolute security for landing of all airliners," the governor said.
Transportation Minister Igor Levitin said there were plans to modernize the other runway at the St. Petersburg airport in the near future if the necessary funds were made available.
"If we receive financing, we will start the reconstruction in 2008," Levitin said.
Pulkovo airport is the third in Russia to have an ICAO Category III runway after Moscow's Sheremetevo and the Domodedovo airports.
