The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) has urged officials to keep Kaliningrad airport operational as it undergoes renovations this year. Speaking with Regnum news agency, the press office of Rosaviatsia confirmed that the runway will be shortened from 2,500 to 1,850 metres while improvement works are underway.
Upgrades to the runway will be carried out from mid-March to mid-April. Head of Rosaviatsia, Alexander Neradko, has said that the facility must remain operational and air carriers will adapt to the shortened runway "in compliance with all safety requirements". Only aircraft smaller than B737-500s and A319-100s will be permitted during the renovation period. Additionally, the runway will be completely closed for at least eight hours a day.
A Russian exclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania along the Baltic Coast, Kaliningrad's main routes are to Moscow Sheremetyevo, Moscow Domodedovo, Moscow Vnukovo, and St. Petersburg operated primarily by Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo) and Ural Airlines (U6, Ekaterinburg).
All renovations are expected to be completed by end-2017, and the newly refurbished terminal will increase capacity from 2 million to 3.5 million passengers per year.
