The best airport of Russia

We really have amazing airports, and one of them was opened recently.

Meet the new Samara-Togliatti Kurumoch airport, which today I liked the most from all Russian airports.

The last time I was here was a little over a year ago, in November 2014. Samara airport then was a real ... barn. That is what many of my fellow travelers and colleagues who had the chance to fly out of him called it. And two weeks ago, having flown to Togliatti to shoot dog sled races, I was pleasantly surprised to see something completely cosmic on arrival instead of a shed. At some point, I even had a thought: "Did I even fly to Samara? Didn't the mountain-traveler mix up the flight?"

No, everything is in order, this is really the new Kurumoch airport.

On the way from the airport to the hotel, right in a taxi, I wrote to the airport press service with a proposal to make a photo report. The head of the press service, Elena Katkova, kindly agreed with the proposal, and now you can see it with your own eyes ... (unfortunately, the day before my working camera was out of order, so the whole report was shot on the iPhone, please do not scold me for the quality of the photo)

The airport, which today serves Samara and Tolyatti, was rebuilt from scratch next to the old barn terminal. It was built in just 2 years, and the first flights the new terminal began serving in February 2015, just a year ago.

It was created by the Moscow design bureau NEFA Architects, which managed to create a really cool modern airport terminal. It seems that you have to fly not on an airplane, but on some spaceship, so here everything looks like shots from science fiction films.

Everything is thought out here to the smallest detail, including services, passengers and guests.

I want to stop and take pictures everywhere.

Though near the ticket offices ...

... at least near convenient and understandable signs ...

... at least near the modern non-reflective display ...

... at least near the registration desks, the scoreboards of which are made in the form of iPhones

Car rental desks

Tourist Information Desk

Even luggage packaging is made in a common design manner

The inspection area, passport control and waiting rooms are located on the second floor, where the stairs and escalator lead

The waiting room is pleasantly amazing no less than the first floor, where check-in for the flight and the arrival area are located. On a huge semicircular display, videos from various cities of the world are shown. But the selection of cities is not random. There you can see the cities where landing is currently on the plane! Very cool invented!

By the way, the “inside” of this giant screen is a business lounge.

But first, let's go through the general waiting room.

Honestly, for the first time I see that he was ... better than a business class hall.

It’s true, it’s really much more comfortable and pleasant to be here!

If you are at the Samara airport, I highly recommend visiting the Three Deer Cafe.

There you can read amazing poems on the walls) Many of them are ambiguous and pretty funny!

The seats in the waiting room are comfortable, without middle armrests, so it is convenient not only to sit on them, but also to lie down if necessary.

I know many opponents of this possibility, but you just never traveled with lengthy transplants, when you tumble and want to sleep a little.

There is a serious drawback at the new airport. I don’t know why, but they didn’t think of ... charging columns with sockets. So people, like in outdated airports, are forced to look for the nearest outlet for technical needs and "cook" near it.

The new terminal employs as many as 7 terap raps, of which 2 are double.

By the way, the maximum airport capacity is 3.5 million passengers per year !!!

Now let's go to the business lounge.

It is also a designer, although, in my personal opinion, it is not as homely and lamp-like as the general waiting room. But that's my personal opinion.

Reception

Bar. The selection of snacks and drinks is rather mediocre, which was a bit disappointing.

In principle, there is nothing at all, only snacks are available.

If you want a snack, food can be ordered at an additional cost.

But the locker room is really cool !!! The best I met in the business lounge

Lounge for passengers traveling in business class or elite level card holders.

The chairs are very comfortable, especially those in the shape of eggs. There you can even sleep for an hour or two - the body will not get tired.

In general, the Samara airport was not just pleased, but pleasantly impressed.
We may also have upscale airports!
It is hoped that in other cities they will be drawn to better examples, making the lives of travelers more pleasant and comfortable.