Dmitry Melikyan, the Director General of Minsk National Airport, has told the Minsk City Executive Committee, “Reconstruction at Minsk National Airport terminal is being conducted as a part of preparations for the Ice Hockey World Championship in 2014: this year, Br324 billion have been allocated, including Br254 billion for buying equipment.”
The number of parking bays for aircraft is to be expanded, adding 11 to the existing 45, at a cost of Br150 billion. The second and third stages of reconstruction are to include the building of a modern international terminal and a second artificial runway — as part of a turnkey contract signed by the Department of Aviation of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Belarus, with a Chinese company making precision machinery. Chinese Eximbank is providing a loan for this purpose.
The new runway should be operational by 2017 and the terminal completed by 2020. Total investments will amount to more than Br4 trillion. A special entrance and exit for taxis is planned, to allow convenient passenger drop off and pick up while ensuring security. In addition, an exhibition centre, a hotel complex with multi-level parking and a Centre of Business Aviation are being built. There will be 16 hangars for planes, a stop point and a high-speed rail link to the capital.
