The history of Vnukovo Airport in pictures

© Photo : all photos belong to Vnukovo airport’s archive Vnukovo Airport is one of Moscow and Moscow Region’s five main airports and the third in terms of passenger traffic (after Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo) in Russia. The airport’s history from its inception to present day – in RIA Novosti’s slide show. Construction of the airport began in 1937 and the first set of facilities became operational on July 2, 1941. Photo: Fighter planes of the civil aviation unit at Vnukovo airport during the Great Patriotic War.

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Vnukovo Airport is one of Moscow and Moscow Region’s five main airports and the third in terms of passenger traffic (after Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo) in Russia. The airport’s history from its inception to present day – in RIA Novosti’s slide show. Construction of the airport began in 1937 and the first set of facilities became operational on July 2, 1941. Photo: Fighter planes of the civil aviation unit at Vnukovo airport during the Great Patriotic War.

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The plane carrying Nazi Germany’s letter of unconditional surrender landed at Vnukovo. Photo: Berlin, May 1945.

© Photo : all photos belong to Vnukovo airport’s archive Soviet astronauts returning from space used to arrive at Vnukovo. Photo: World’s first astronaut Yuri Gagarin during his ceremonial reception at Vnukovo.

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Soviet astronauts returning from space used to arrive at Vnukovo. Photo: World’s first astronaut Yuri Gagarin during his ceremonial reception at Vnukovo.

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The meeting of astronauts Leonov and Belyayev at Vnukovo airport, 1965.

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Khrushchev, Titov and Gagarin during a ceremonial reception in Titov’s honor at Vnukovo.

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Astronauts of the Voskhod Spacecraft, 1964.

© Photo : all photos belong to Vnukovo airport’s archive Vnukovo maintains a special status – for over sixty years the airport services flights of the country’s senior officials and heads of foreign states and governments visiting Russia. Photo: Leonid Brezhnev and Fidel Castro at the Vnukovo International Airport.

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Vnukovo maintains a special status – for over sixty years the airport services flights of the country’s senior officials and heads of foreign states and governments visiting Russia. Photo: Leonid Brezhnev and Fidel Castro at the Vnukovo International Airport.

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Greeting French President Charles de Gaulle at the Vnukovo airport, 1966.

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US President Reagan with his wife at Vnukovo.

© Photo : all photos belong to Vnukovo airport’s archive From May 2008 Aeroexpress runs between Vnukovo and Kiyevsky Railway Station. Photo: Aeroexpress to Moscow from an underground station at Vnukovo airport.

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From May 2008 Aeroexpress runs between Vnukovo and Kiyevsky Railway Station. Photo: Aeroexpress to Moscow from an underground station at Vnukovo airport.

© Photo : all photos belong to Vnukovo airport’s archive The new terminal A, opened in 2010, is intended to serve 25 million passengers each year. Photo: Façade of the new passenger terminal A at Vnukovo.