Payless

Moscow (IATA: MOW) has four main airports:

* Sheremetyevo International Airport, (IATA: SVO) +7 495 232-65-65 [2].
* Domodedovo International Airport (IATA: DME) +7 495 933-66-66 [3].
* Vnukovo International Airport (IATA: VKO) Tel: (Head Office) +7 495 436-71-9 [4].
* Bykovo Airport - the smallest one (IATA: BKA) +7 495 558-47-38.

Moscow is by far the main air traffic hub of Russia and will continue to be as both Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo are undergoing major development plans.

In 1980-1991 all international flights to Moscow landed at Sheremetyevo International Airport, commonly called Sheremetyevo II, which was recently renamed "Terminal F". The home base of Aeroflot, Sheremetyevo II was built for the 1980 Summer Olympics. Sheremetyevo I (now "Terminal B") is an old Soviet era domestic terminal of the same airport. Today Sheremetyevo also has two new terminals C and D (the new Aeroflot's home); Terminal E was open second Q 2010.

In recent years, Sheremetyevo has been eclipsed by Domodedovo, which has undergone a recent renovation and has always had a direct commuter rail link to the city. Many international carriers, including British Airways and Lufthansa, have switched to Domodedovo and since 2005 it has catered to more passengers than Sheremetyevo. Aeroflot's biggest competitors S7 (Sibir) and Transaero, along with a slew of minnows, are based at Domodedovo.

If you prefer to go to the airport by car, it is best to call a taxi agency and book a cab. There are many agencies that can provide this service, and the cost ranges from €30-50 or more. Be sure to check the list of official taxi operators on the official websites of airports. With telephone or online pre-booking you will be able to get a taxi for a cheaper price. All airports also have taxi kiosks where you can get yourself a driver at a fixed price, but a bit higher than if you book taxi online or by phone in advance. Don't listen to people jumping at you in the terminal as soon as you clear customs with offers of a taxi in several languages - at best it will get you a major rip-off, and may be unsafe to boot. For public transportation see below:


Sheremetyevo International Airport, (IATA: SVO)  has terminals B, C, D, E (to be open II quarter 2010), and F into two groups across the runway [8]. You can walk between terminals B and C; or between terminals D, E and F; but you have to take a shuttle bus  or a taxi to go between the two sites. Sheremetyevo I is the old name for Terminal B, and Sheremetyevo II is the old name for Terminal F.

International flights depart terminals C, F and D. Domestic destinations are operated out of terminals B and D. Aeroflot is trying to move most of its flights to the newly built Terminal D (was known during the construction time as "Terminal 3" or "Sheremetyevo III"). Most international flights, including those operated by Aeroflot, still depart Terminal F (ex-Sheremetyevo II).

Sheremetyevo, north of the city centre, is the closest airport to downtown Moscow but the major road leading to it, Leningradskoye Shosse, is one of the busiest in the city and is normally a giant traffic jam most of the day.

The surest way to get to Sheremetyevo in time is to take an Aeroexpress [10] train from Belorussky Railway Terminal (see below). These depart from a dedicated terminal (3d or 4th entrances) from 5:50AM to 11:30PM every 30 or 60 minutes (check their website before you go, there is a 2-hr "window" in the schedule between 11am and 1pm from Belorussky, and from 10:30am to 12:30pm from Sheremetyevo), and now connect directly to SVO-2/D/E/F, with a shuttle bus service to SVO-1/B/C. The journey takes 35 minutes and costs 300 rubles one-way. Keep your paper ticket for the whole of the Aeroexpress journey.

It is also possible to reach Sheremetyevo from Metro (subway) stations Rechnoi Vokzal or Planernaya, the northwest termini for the green and purple line respectively. This route, though recommended by major English-language guidebooks, however only makes sense if you start your journey somewhere in the north of Moscow or have to be at the airport when the train is not running (see schedules above). There are slower buses (#851 from Rechnoy Vokzal, #817 from Planernaya) and faster shared, fixed-price route taxis (called Marshrutka; a noxious-yellow passenger van seating about a dozen people) from both stations. Buses depart very regularly (about 15-30 minutes). Without traffic jams (a very rare occasion) the trip takes about 30-40 minutes and costs 20-50 RUB, depending on which one you take and the amount of your luggage. If you have plenty of bulky luggage, you should not take Marshrutka; there's precious little space inside even for the passengers' legs. Be careful because either of the bus/Marshrutka routes goes to both terminals, the only difference being which one it visits first; if you take the wrong one, you'll still get where you are going, but your ride will spend an extra 20 minutes navigating the dilapidated pavement around the airport grounds. During the rush hour the Planernaya route can be slightly less prone to traffic jams, as it partially avoids the busy roads.

For leaving a car near the airport for the length of your trip outside Moscow, there are numerous (non)official parking lots between SVO1 and SVO2; rates start from 200 RUB/day and up.


Most flights from/to Sheremetyevo II are operated either by Aeroflot or by its partner international carriers, mostly members of the SkyTeam alliance. Check-in starts two hours before departure time (three hours for US-bound flights).

If you fly economy and there are several people in your group, for check-in it's better to have someone to stand in business class queue, especially if you arrive before registration starts: business-class clerk opens first and may take on economy class passengers if there's none (or at least not too many) business-class customers.

Ground-floor is the arrivals level, with departures being one level above.

Driving in to Sheremetyevo II area (going behind toll bar) is hugely overpriced and should be avoided whenever possible. In addition to entry charge of 100RUR/hour (rounded up to next hour), after entering toll bar there's extra charge taken, from 100RUR/hour to 300RUR/hour, depending on distance from entrance and comfort of parking--with an unofficial option of unlimited-time stay for 300RUR.

In the pre-check-in area on the departures level, there's only TGI Friday plus six to eight no-name cafes/bars/coffee shops. TGIF can make your coffee to go, but charges about 360RUB for mid-sized latte and serves it in Coca-Cola-branded paper cups. They also have free Wi-Fi which can be used outside of the restaurant as well. The TGIF serves the same menu as in America, which may come in handy on your way out if you have grown tired of salty smoked fish and warm drinks. There's a cheap self-service cafeteria two levels up (use the elevator or the stairs), where all the airport workers eat, and a more formal 1980's Soviet-retro-chic restaurant above it. Both have nice view of the tarmac.

Most cafes and restaurants beyond passport control are faceless and overpriced. Club Bar boasts Ronnefeldt teas and decent pancakes however. Note that you have to clear customs before check-in so there's practically no going back after you check-in to the cafeteria or the restaurant upstairs.

The airport has banking and currency exchange offices, and ATMs are available in both the arrivals and departures areas. Remember to change your rubles into Euros or USD before departing Moscow, as almost no other country will cash in your rubles for you. Duty-free shops operated by Aerofirst Moscow Duty Free cover a large space, but merely repeat the same choice in five or six outlets. As elsewhere, only the most popular local souvenirs are sold, still with a huge margin. This terminal also has a hairdresser, pharmacy and a medical office as well as at least two travel agencies. Business and first class lounges are in upstairs.

For transit passangers without a Russian visa a possibility exists to stay the night at Novotel hotel just outside the airport. Report to the 'Transfer/Transit without visa' desk apon arrival. You'll be escorted to the hotel in a private bus and stay in a corridor with personal security guard. Rooms are spacious (two queen size beds) and comfortable. You'll be picked up by Aeroflot staff about one hour prior to departure and the bus will bring you directly to the departure gate. Cost of this service is around RUB 6700 for a room.

The information desk is in the main hall and sometimes you are lucky enough to get someone who speaks reasonably good English. The number is +7 (495) 956 4666. You can also call an Intourist representatives (available in Terminal 2) who can provide tourist information at +7 (495) 578 5971.


Domodedovo International Airport (IATA: DME) is south of the city center and is most conveniently reached by Aeroexpress  train from Paveletsky Train Station (near a metro of the same name). The trip takes about 40 minutes and takes you directly into the airport. Trains leave every hour from 6AM to 11:30PM (every 30 minutes in peak hours) and cost 300 rubles. At Paveletsky station, you take the well-signposted entrance no.2, up some steps into the station proper, then down another flight of steps to the left and left along a corridor. The ticket office is on the right. The platform is reached after passing through another room offering various check-in desks for domestic flights. Keep your paper ticket for the whole of the Aeroexpress journey. It will be checked on the train and you will need to scan the barcode on it when exiting Domodedovo Airport station.

When catching a train from DME to the city, note that there are both regular old suburban trains and dedicated non-stop services from the same platform. The regular commuter train service costs less (72 rubles), but the trip will take around 1 hour and 15 minutes and the carriages are less comfortable. Alternatively, you can go to the Domodedovskaya metro station and catch a bus 405 or a shuttle from there. Shuttle operates 24 hours, but nighttime schedule is different. .

There is an express bus connection between Domodedovo and Vnukovo airports, which departs about every 90 minutes. Note that Domodedovo is the farthest airport from the center and cab fares are particularly high. If you arrive after the trains stop running, you'll pay through the nose for the privilege of being transported to downtown Moscow.


Vnukovo International Airport (IATA: VKO)  is southwest from the city centre. Take the bus 611 or Marshrutka to/from metro station Yugo-Zapadnaya. Buses depart about every 15 minutes with a trip time of about 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can take an Aeroexpress train  from Kievsky Train Station, which departs from 7AM to midnight every 60 minutes in peak hours (with intervals of about four hours for off-peak hours). The journey takes 35-45 minutes and costs 300 rubles one-way. There is an express bus connection between Domodedovo and Vnukovo airports, which departs about every 90 minutes.


Bykovo is a regional airport southeast from city centre. It only serves a few short-haul domestic flights due to its short runway. Take the "elektrichka" commuter train from Kazansky Train Station. It takes about 50 minutes and runs every 15-20 minutes. Get off at the Bykovo Station. Bykovo Airport is about 400 meters away.

Tags: Flights to Moscow,