The runway reconstruction at Norilsk’s Alykel airport, the main air hub in the Krasnoyarsk Region, is over. The runway has served first flights, Head of the Russian aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, Alexander Neradko told reporters on Monday.

"The runway’s reconstruction is over. A runway is a key element of any airport’s infrastructure. <…> The first landing has been performed. <…> Flights to Norilsk are safer now, the runway has new radio-technical and light equipment," he said.

The reconstruction continued for three summer seasons. It is a unique experience in the Russian and international practice - the construction in the permafrost conditions is made in due time and quality. Thus, as the works’ third stage is over, the federal authority has issued a respective certificate to the airport.

The current year was the busiest in the renovation cycle. Pilots had to use a shortened runway. Before the works, all crews took special training in using the limited runway in complicated weather conditions.

The Captain of a Boeing 737-800, which landed on the new runway on Monday, Sergei Kruchinin, said the runway complies fully with the European standards and it is different from the old runway like a Mercedes car from an outdated vehicle.