A long-standing relationship between Russia’s Krasnoyarsk region and Volga-Dnepr’s group of carriers has resulted to an agreement that will see the region’s international airport become the setting for a logistics hub.

In a signing ceremony earlier today during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, representatives, including the governor of Krasnoyarsk, signed a cooperation agreement to develop cross-regional and international cargo operations that could potentially bring in over a quarter million (around 267 million) roubles.

The agreement covers the opening of an international postal centre at Emelyanovo airport, as well as cargo customs office and mail customs checkpoint for more effective and seamless cargo clearance. Volga-Dnepr adds the group plans to introduce new logistics and transport models.

Krasnoyarsk governor Alexander Uss admits the benefits of the airline’s cargo operations to the airport, and the official believes the new cargo centre will make it ‘one of the strongest airports in Russia, the economic driver of the region and Siberia.’

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Despite these developments, Alexey Isaykin, partner and board chairman of Volga-Dnepr, says the airport has yet to unleash its full potential and there is room for further development. “We have had a five-fold increase of cargo carried to/from and through Emelyanovo and the airport services coped with all the operations, with a major part of the work being done by liveware not only by hardware and software. The airport demonstrated that it could provide high-quality services and keep on increasing the volumes,” he noted.

Krasyonarsk has become the hub airport for other Russian carriers like Aeroflot Airlines and the airport claims significant changes in its infrastructure have been one of the main reasons for this.

“A lot has been done and this is just the beginning. The airport is capable to increase its passenger and cargo operations. The runway and infrastructure allow us to handle various types of planes with the provision of high-quality services,” said Andrey Metzler, General Director of Krasnoyarsk Airport.

Aside from air cargo, the airport is working with Volga-Dnepr on other projects, including providing personnel training for MRO services and ground handling operations as well as daily apron operations, airport driving services and passenger handling.