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French Ambassador to Russia visited Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport

On the 1^st - 2^nd April in Novosibirsk Ambassador of France to Russia Mr. Jean de Gliniasty, First Deputy General Director of Novaport Holding Company Mr. Alexander Borodin and General Director of JSC "Airport Tolmachevo" Eugene Yankilevich discussed cooperation of the largest airport beyond the Ural Mountains with French companies in the aviation business.

The dynamics of the international route network of Tolmachevo Airport development was presented to French Ambassador to Russia. In 2011, the passenger traffic growth was 44.7% for the given segment. It is stimulated by the airport’s up-to-date infrastructure and the program for attracting airlines. The prospects for cooperation with French companies which are very interested in Siberia were discussed at the meeting.

On the second day of the visit the French delegation and representatives of the airport Tolmachevo participated in the conference "Transport - Energy Efficiency: How to adapt French innovation ideas in Russia", held in the Government of the Novosibirsk region.

The experience of implementing French ideas in Russia was presented at the conference, with certain examples of specific transportation projects.

On the 2^nd April negotiations were held between the management of Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport management and the representatives of Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (France). The parties discussed the possibility of opening direct flights between Novosibirsk and France, and exchange of exclusive experience in the aviation sector. An introductory tour of Tolmachevo Airport terminal complex was given to the French guests.

Historical Reference:

Cooperation of Tolmachevo Airport and the French Republic has a long history.

In 1966 Tolmachevo Airport welcomed the French government delegation led by President Charles de Gaulle.

In 1970 an AirFrance Boeing707 made a technical landing at Tolmachevo for the first time.

In 1970-80 Airport Tolmachevo repeatedly received the famous Anglo-French supersonic aircraft "Concorde".

In 2007 the chief designer of ADPi Designers & Planners Company Mr. Philippe Boucher visited Tolmachevo Airport. A year later, a design project of a new passenger terminal for 5.5 million passengers a year was presented to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during his visit to Novosibirsk in the course of the conference "On the draft of the Transport Strategy of Russia till 2030".

In 2011, there was the first business meeting of the management of Tolmachevo Airport with Ambassador of France to Russia Jean de Gliniasty during his visit to Novosibirsk.