Boryspil to expand transit capacity

At the end of the first six months of 2016 the number of transit passengers traveling through Kyiv’s main airport doubled (Photo by Boryspil Airport)

Kyiv’s Boryspil airport has announced plans to expand transit passenger zone at its Terminal D next year. The move is dictated by transit traffic growth forecasts, the airport’s general director Evgeniy Dykhne explained during a meeting at Ukraine’s Chamber of commerce. “Terminal D was designed without consideration for our needs for today. Unfortunately, the terminal was built with the idea in mind that it would serve only as a final destination, so no transfer zone was in the plan,” he said.

Terminal D became operational in 2012, its first mission was to serve charter flights during UEFA 2012 Championship. Later on, all international flights were transferred to the terminal. In 2014, it started handling domestic passengers as well.

At preset, the airport is following a strategy aimed at increasing transit traffic. At the end of the first six months of 2016, the number of transit passengers traveling through Kyiv’s main airport doubled compared to the same period last year, and reached 940,000 passengers.

Another growth driver at Boryspil is the airport’s efforts at improving passenger experience, the airport’s CEO claimed. He mentioned that the waiting time at all control stages has been reduced by 18%. Next year, the airport intends to continue its efforts in the same direction, including implementation of a new passenger screening procedure, which should further reduce waiting time by another 30%. “Handling companies are already working on this. Today handling time for the majority of flights fit within the 15 minute standard. On some days we have deviations, but waiting time still doesn’t exceed 17 or 18 minutes in queues and at the check-in counters”, Evgeniy Dykhne said.

The airport’s new strategy was adopted in 2015. Part of that strategy is attracting new carriers and motivating existing partners to open new destinations, including transit flights. At the end of last year, the airport’s traffic increased by 5.6%, and the number of transit passengers climbed 69%. Aircraft ground handling times were reduced and Boryspil climbed out of losses.

In January through June 2016 Boryspil handled 3.64 million passengers, up 14% YOY. Its targets for this year are 7.4 million passengers, a 13% surge over 2015 results.