On November 23, 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S.V. Lavrov awarded the staff of Sheremetyevo International Airport with a certificate of honor from the Government of the Russian Federation. The high award was given to the effective contribution, professional approach and involvement in the common cause of airport employees in organizing and holding events for the repatriation of Russian citizens from foreign countries in connection with the coronavirus infection pandemic in 2020. The ceremony of awarding representatives of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs who took part in organizing the events took place within the framework of the International Forum “International Agenda of Russian Business: Challenges, Risks, Strategy of Interaction with the State”.
During the pandemic, Sheremetyevo Airport took over the main burden associated with servicing flights arriving from epidemiologically unfavorable countries, since at that time it was the only Russian airport that provided repatriation flights. During the period from March to September 2020, Sheremetyevo received 236 flights of this kind, which returned home 50 thousand Russian citizens.
Special attention should be paid to the unique flight of the Royal Flight airline, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Sheremetyevo Airport with the participation of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in July 2020. The unprecedented operation to evacuate Russian citizens from seven countries - Tanzania, Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya and Jordan - became possible thanks to the initiative and assistance of the Russian Foreign Ministry, financial support from the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and effective cooperation between Royal Flight and Sheremetyevo Airport.
On board flight RL9912 from several African countries there were 197 citizens of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Kazakhstan; in total, the aircraft traveled 100 hours. At the Sheremetyevo airport for passengers upon arrival, total medical control and health checks were provided with the participation of Rospotrebnadzor employees and personnel of the medical and sanitary unit of JSC SIA.
During the pandemic, Sheremetyevo became the first airport in Russia to implement unprecedented measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection in the Russian Federation and protect the health of passengers and personnel. In particular, Sheremetyevo became the first airport in the world to launch a COVID-19 express test service jointly with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
Today, Sheremetyevo continues to provide comprehensive measures to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for passengers, guests and employees in cooperation with partner airlines in accordance with government requirements and scientific guidelines.
