Penza, 6 March 2017. PenzaNews. In 2017, passenger flow of the Penza airport is planned to be increased by 5,000 people. This was reported by the head of the regional Ministry of Industry Mikhail Torgashin.

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"Passenger flow in 2016 increased more than 2.5 times (from 41,490 to 105,000 people) compared to 2013. [...] The number of flights increased almost twice. In 2017 it is planned to increase the number of flights to 4,400, and the passenger flow – to 110,000 people," he specified at an operative meeting in the regional government that was held on Monday, March 6.

Mikhail Torgashin reminded that in 2017 it is planned to conduct flights to five cities – Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, and Izhevsk. In summer, there will be also flights to Sochi, Simferopol and Anapa.

"Furthermore, flights to Simferopol and Sochi will be conducted more often – four times a week instead of three as it was before," the minister noted.

He added that in future, flight geography will be expanded.

Moreover, according to Mikhail Torgashin, Penza airport will accommodate such aircrafts as Airbus A320 and A321, as well as Boeing 737-800 designed for 150 passengers.

"In this regard, it is necessary to upgrade technological process of the airport complex. At present, the issue is under serious study because it is necessary to solve it in order to accommodate aircrafts during the FIFA World Football Cup," he added.

The head of the Ministry of Industry of the Penza region specified that suggestions on upgrading the airport will be made within a month.