Basel Aero, which operates four airports across Russia’s Krasnodar region, held a sod-turning ceremony to build a new terminal in Anapa International Airport on Tuesday. The company invested $18.6 mln (1.4 bln rubles) to the project that is expected to be completed in late 2016.

A two-floor 11,800 sq.m facility will have a handling capacity of 600 passengers per hour and will boast energy-efficient technology (solar batteries), environmentally-friendly materials and modern equipment to ensure safety of passengers, airport’s staff and crew members.

A concession area of the new terminal will be organized in accordance with the passengers’ consumer preferences and spending capacity. There will also be a children’s playground in the airport as well as a business lounge.

Anapa International Airport will remain operational during the construction of the new facility. There will be no construction-related disruptions either for passengers or for the carriers.

The existing 5,000 sq.m Anapa airport with a capacity of 400 passengers per hour, was built in 1976.

Leonid Sergeyev, Basel Aero CEO, says: “Economic and political downturn in Russia sparked a surge in domestic travels what, in turn, resulted in a growing passenger turnover in the airports operated by Basel Aero in Krasnodar region. Along with modernization of existing terminal, we’ve decided to build a new one to cater the needs of increasing number of tourists visiting Anapa. We expect to complete the construction by the end of 2016. A part of $18.6 mln investment will also go for the construction of a new engineering and sewage facilities.”