Italian-Turkish team for Russian airport

A joint venture between Italy's Astaldi and Turkey's IC (Ictas Insaat) will be general contractor for the first stage of the Pulkovo Airport development project in St Petersburg, Russia.

Major subcontractors for the project have also been named, and the Italian-Turkish consortium has already expressed its intention of engaging Russian firm Metrostroy and German multinational Siemens.

Six European companies tendered for the construction of the first stage of the project, and Northern Capital Gateway, the international consortium which operates the airport, said that one of the criteria used to select the joint venture was its experience in airport construction.

Sergey Emdin, director general of Northern Capital Gateway, said, "Essential yardsticks for selection of a general contractor were the international experience in building of large airports, and capability to bring in line the European quality and service standards required by the project, with Russian construction regulations and requirements.

"We have no doubt in successful implementation of Pulkovo airport development project and construction of new passenger terminal that will contribute to beautification of St Petersburg."

The total cost of modernising the airport between 2010 and 2013 has been put at around € 1,2 billion.