Vnukovo Airport: History and Transport Links

• Construction of the airfield began in 1938; the airport opened ahead of schedule on July 2, 1941.
• After World War II, Vnukovo took on a central role in Moscow’s civil aviation from September 1945 onward.
• Aeroport Vnukovo Metro station provides underground access to Terminal A.
• A suburban rail service connects Vnukovo with Kievsky railway station, stopping at Aminyevskaya.

In 1936, the Soviet government decided to expand civil aviation and build a new airport for the capital. The site southwest of Moscow was chosen for its proximity to the railway and its elevated, relatively flat terrain. Work on the airfield began in 1938. Alongside the runway, the first phase of construction included a hangar, a reception building, technical facilities, a fire station, workshops, storage facilities, and a railway connection.

The airport opened ahead of schedule on July 2, 1941. During the war, it served as a military airfield and a major air transport base. After the war, from September 1945 onward, Vnukovo became a central hub for Moscow’s civil aviation. The airport’s history thus reflects the shift from a project initially planned for civilian use to military use and subsequent civilian expansion.

As the airfield was developed, a residential community for employees and pilots also took shape. The first phase of construction included residential buildings and 28 cottages for flight personnel. In the postwar years, a polyclinic, a hotel, a hospital, and a nursery were added. The residential area later became the Moscow district of Vnukovo.

Vnukovo also played a role in the development of the Soviet Tu-104 passenger aircraft. In 1955, the airport became an important site for its testing. The jet was the first Soviet jet airliner and marked a new era in civil aviation.

Aeroport Vnukovo Metro station is located at the airport, with an underground entrance leading to Terminal A. The station also has exits to the forecourt and a park. Another rail connection, operated by the CPPK suburban rail service, runs between Kievsky railway station and Vnukovo. It stops at Aminyevskaya station, where passengers can transfer to the Metro’s Big Circle Line. This service began operating on August 1, 2024.

Vnukovo is one of Moscow’s airports. When staying in Moscow, the location of your accommodation affects travel between your arrival point and destinations around the city.

When did the first scheduled Tu-104 flight depart from Vnukovo?

The first scheduled Tu-104 flight from Moscow to Irkutsk departed from Vnukovo on September 15, 1956.