Sakhalin and China's Harbin to collaborate in developing air transportation
YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK. Dec 23 (Interfax) - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport has signed a cooperation agreement with Heilongjiang Airport Management Corporation (Harbin) that envisages developing air transportation between Sakhalin and China, the press service of JSC Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport, the company that manages the airport terminal, said.
The signed document particularly implies increasing the frequency of flights and the number of air carriers on the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk-Harbin route, as well as promoting these locations as tourist destinations.
The press service said that JSC Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport and Heilongjiang Corporation will analyze the strengths and weaknesses in working with passengers and outline the timeframes for resolving the issues.
JSC Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport CEO Ruslan Stepanets was quoted as saying that the first large group from China is expected in January, when participants in the fourth Russia-China Winter Games arrive in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. "Going forward, we plan to boost transportation capacity in this direction," Stepanets said, adding that collaborating with companies in China should allow Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport "to adapt services for foreign air travelers, and launch new services and flights for our passengers."
The parties plan to hold working meetings both in person and remotely, and the next meeting should be held in early January 2025, the press service said.
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport is the base for Aurora Airlines. The airport boosted passenger service 12% year-on-year to 1.4 million travelers in 2023.
Information posted on the company's website indicates that eight carriers collaborate with the airport, operating flights to 11 cities in Russia, to Harbin and Beijing, China, as well as to eight settlements in the Sakhalin Region.
A new passenger terminal launched operations at Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport in August 2023, becoming the largest in area in the Far Eastern Federal District at nearly 47,500 square meters, with capacity to handle five million passengers per year.