Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo will choose the consultant for carrying out the deal on consolidation of the airports, Kommersant reports.

This week Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo will choose the consultant, which will be evaluating the assets of both airports and developing strategy for future consolidation (the requirements specification for the consultants is currently being elaborated). As reported by two sources close to the selection process, four companies are on the short-list. Three of them are topping the list of world class consultants — McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Company. The fourth one - A.T. Kearney, is ranked sixth in the international rating.

The winner will be presented to the aviation authorities for gaining the approval in the end of this week. At present A.T. Kearney seems to be the front-runner. "They have carried out similar analysis in Munich airport and this company has best practices in the area of evaluation and structuring of airport assets", — said the source, however, another source believes that the winner has not been decided yet. "There are controversies and A.T. Keаrney receives enough criticism", — he said.
We remind you that the idea of consolidating Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo with further participation of a single managing company was suggested by ex-prime-minister Vladimir Putin in March 2011. The first stage of consolidation has been completed in early April: Terminal (the operator of Terminal D) and Sheremetyevo International Airport have been consolidated. It was planned to invite a consultant on the second stage for evaluating the business of both airports. The consolidation strategy is being elaborated by the Steering Committee established in April and formed by the representatives of both airports’ management and independent expert – representative of Aeroports de Paris. The consolidation process should be completed by the end of 2012.