On January 29, the assets of the group of companies managing Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport were transferred to OOO Perspektiva, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sheremetyevo International Airport JSC, following the conclusion of a privatization auction. The results of the auction are subject to official approval on January 30, according to RBC.
Perspektiva was one of two bidders approved for the privatization process. The other contender was Moscow International Airport JSC, fully controlled by the operator of Vnukovo Airport. All other applications were rejected by the auction organizer.
The sale was conducted as a repeated descending-price auction. The initial valuation of the airport complex exceeded RUB 132 billion (~$1.6 billion). During the auction, the price was reduced to approximately RUB 66 billion (~$800 million), where the winning bid was confirmed. The process was facilitated by Promsvyazbank using an electronic trading platform.
The privatization follows the transfer of Domodedovo assets to state ownership in summer 2025, which was triggered by a legal dispute over the airport’s previous owners. With the ownership change, the operator faced the immediate task of stabilizing the airport’s financial model and defining a long-term governance structure.
At the time of sale, Domodedovo carried a substantial debt burden, with total liabilities estimated by the market at over RUB 70 billion (~$850 million). The new owner assumes responsibility for servicing this debt while maintaining operational stability amid recent declines in passenger traffic.
The transaction consolidates control over Moscow’s two largest airports under a single corporate group. Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo have historically competed for base carriers, transit passengers, and international traffic. Post-acquisition, strategic management of both airports will be centralized within the same corporate structure.
Legally, the airports will retain separate corporate structures and current aerodrome certificates. However, strategic decisions may include route network allocation, infrastructure investments, and long-term development programs. Regulators are expected to focus on tariff policies and compliance with antitrust requirements.
The new owner also faces completing construction of the second runway (Runway 2), previously delayed due to actions by former owners who diverted significant funds abroad, including state subsidies. The Prosecutor General’s Office classified these operations as illegal; the transactions were annulled, and the assets returned to the state. Domodedovo continues to operate with a single runway, and completing Runway 2 will require investment and coordination with government authorities.
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