Moscow Domodedovo Airport

Overview and role

Domodedovo functions as a mixed civil airport handling scheduled domestic and international flights, cargo operations and charter services. Since the 1990s it has been developed into a modern, largely privatized airport complex and serves as a base or major operating point for several Russian carriers. Passenger traffic has grown substantially in the 21st century; for example, the airport handled over 30 million passengers in 2017 and is regularly listed as the second busiest airport in the Moscow area after Sheremetyevo.

Facilities and layout

The airport complex centres on a main passenger terminal that brings together check‑in, arrival and departure facilities, retail areas and ground services. Multiple aprons and taxiways provide capacity for commercial aircraft, and the field is equipped to serve both short‑haul and long‑haul flights. Groundside infrastructure includes parking, car hire and dedicated bus and coach zones. Passenger amenities and operational areas have been expanded incrementally to accommodate rising demand.

History and development

Originally opened in the Soviet period, Domodedovo underwent substantial modernization after the end of the USSR, when private investment funded terminal upgrades and runway work. The airport's expansion in the 2000s and 2010s helped it become a major regional hub. In 2019 the airport was officially designated with the honorary name of the Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov following a public contest and presidential decree related to the renaming.

Access and transport connections

One of Domodedovo's notable features is its direct rail link to central Moscow: a dedicated airport express service connects the terminal with one of the city's main rail terminals, providing a reliable alternative to road traffic. The airport is also reachable by intercity buses, local transit, taxis and private car via major highways that radiate from the capital. These options make travel times to central Moscow predictable, especially compared with road‑only access.

Operations, significance and notable events

Domodedovo plays an important role in Russia's civil aviation network as a hub for scheduled services and a focus city for several carriers. It supports a mix of short and long‑haul international destinations as well as dense domestic connections. The airport's history includes both rapid growth and challenges typical of a large transport node; it has been the subject of infrastructure investment, regulatory oversight and efforts to enhance passenger security and service quality. For further general information and resources about the facility, see official and third‑party summaries and operational guides about Moscow travel.

• Key facts: IATA: DME; location: Moscow Oblast.
• Transport: rail express, buses, taxis, road links.
• Rank: consistently among Russia's busiest airports, behind Sheremetyevo by passenger numbers in several recent years.