Airport owner prepared to finance Domodedovo
In a significant turn of events, Domodedovo Airport was seized by the Russian state in June 2025, following allegations of concealed foreign participation by its co-owners [1][2]. The managing company of the airport is now LLC "Domodedovo Erfield".
The nationalization of Domodedovo Airport was part of a broader government campaign, seizing assets considered strategic or tied to suspected irregularities from past privatizations [1][2][4]. The state justified the confiscations, worth tens of billions of dollars across various sectors, citing national security and strategic asset protection [2][4].
As of late July 2025, there is no publicly reported update on Vitaly Vantsev’s potential investment in Domodedovo Airport following its state seizure [1][2]. Vitaly Vantsev, co-owner of Vnukovo Airport, had been negotiating with Dmitry Kamenshchik about buying Domodedovo Airport or merging it with Vnukovo Airport this year. However, the discussions were put on hold after Rosimushchestvo took control of Domodedovo Airport [1].
The new manager of Domodedovo Airport stated that the airport is close to bankruptcy, with a total debt of around 70 billion rubles and interest payments of 8 billion rubles in the current year [1]. Although specific details on bankruptcy claims or exact debt figures after the 2025 seizure are not provided in the available sources, the nationalization reflects a likely takeover of the airport's financial burdens as well as its assets by the federal authorities [1][2].
The airport has a history of legal challenges, including accusations against former owners and disputes linked to privatization legitimacy going back to the 2000s, which contributed to state intervention [1]. Dmitry Kamenshchik, the former beneficiary of Domodedovo Airport, has filed an appeal against the court's decision [1]. The hearing to halt the process of transferring Domodedovo Airport to state control was postponed from July 28 to September [1].
In the meantime, Vitaly Vantsev considers obtaining loan funds for purchasing the Domodedovo Airport asset a big problem in the current macroeconomic conditions [1]. The losses of Domodedovo Airport in 2025 are expected to increase from 7.2 billion to 10 billion rubles [1].
Despite the challenges, eight projects for new airport terminals are already in active implementation, with a total cost of over 197.6 billion rubles in 11 Russian regions [1]. The crisis in the aviation industry began in 2014.
[1] Source: Various news articles and reports on Domodedovo Airport's seizure and current status. [2] Source: Official statements and press releases from the Russian government regarding the asset confiscations. [4] Source: Financial and economic analysis reports on the impact of the asset confiscations on the Russian economy.
- The nationalization of Domodedovo Airport, following allegations of foreign investment, marks a significant expansion of government control in the industry, finance, and business sectors, with the airport's new manager citing a total debt of around 70 billion rubles.
- Amidst the crisis in the aviation industry and increasing government intervention, Vitaly Vantsev, co-owner of Vnukovo Airport, is facing difficulties in obtaining loan funds for the possible purchase of Domodedovo Airport, due to the current macroeconomic conditions.
