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Ulan-Ude airport ready to accommodate heavy aircraft

Until now there had been restrictions on accommodating of some types of planes regarding the runway’s durability

ULAN-UDE, November 23. /TASS/. Baikal International Airport in Buryatia’s capital of Ulan-Ude has received permission to use the existing runway to accommodate heavy planes such as the Airbus 320-200 and the Boeing 737-800, the airport press service said.

Until now there had been restrictions on accommodating of some types of planes regarding the runway’s durability. “These restrictions have been lifted in view of the construction of a new runway that will lead to reducing the old runway's life cycle,” the press service elaborated. “The changes will enable the runway’s use to be intensified and ensure a significant increase in the number of flights to Ulan-Ude.”

The airport authorities and the Buryatia government have already begun talks with air carriers.

Work on a new runway is underway according to the Ulan-Ude airport reconstruction project, construction started this past August and will be completed in 2018.

The Baikal airport is a federal Russian aerodrome that has international status. That said, its annual passenger traffic comes to 300,000. Moreover, the airport's location allows it to accommodate flights from the Asian-Pacific countries for refueling and providing ground services.

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