Finance
Russia sells Moscow's nationalised Domodedovo airport to Sheremetyevo subsidiary
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 29, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 29, 2026
Quick Summary
Russia sells Domodedovo Airport to Sheremetyevo's Perspektiva for $869M after a failed initial auction, highlighting a major asset transfer.
Russia Transfers Ownership of Domodedovo Airport to Sheremetyevo Unit
Overview of the Domodedovo Airport Sale
MOSCOW, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Russia has sold one of the country's largest and most modern airports, Moscow's Domodedovo, to a subsidiary of another Moscow airport, Sheremetyevo, for 66 billion roubles ($869 million), a Russian state trading platform showed on Thursday.
Details of the Auction Process
The auction was the second attempt to sell the airport, which was nationalised at the Prosecutor General's request in June 2025, the latest in a series of state asset seizures.
Financial Implications for Domodedovo
The first auction on January 20, which set a starting price of 132.3 billion roubles, failed after the sole biddder was disqualified. The second auction allowed bids below that same starting price.
Ownership History of Sheremetyevo
The sole participant, Perspektiva, a firm 100% owned by Sheremetyevo, won the auction at a price of 66.13 billion roubles, the lowest possible price under the rules of the auction, Russian corporate filings and a document published on the Russian state property trading platform showed.
Domodedovo needs investment, has 75 billion roubles of debt, and is currently loss-making, Sheremetyevo's CEO Mikhail Vasilenko told Russian media last week.
The majority stake in Sheremetyevo International Airport, the country's largest airport, is held by a Russian company, registered in the Kaliningrad region.
Its ownership is not public. Before December 2022 it was owned by businessman Arkady Rotenberg, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his partners.
($1 = 75.9500 roubles)
(Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov and Anastasiya Lyrchikova; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Key Takeaways
- •Domodedovo Airport sold for 66 billion roubles.
- •Sheremetyevo subsidiary Perspektiva won the auction.
- •Initial auction failed due to disqualified bidder.
- •Domodedovo has 75 billion roubles of debt.
- •Sheremetyevo's ownership history involves Arkady Rotenberg.
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia sells Moscow's nationalised Domodedovo airport to Sheremetyevo subsidiary
1What is an auction?
An auction is a public sale in which goods or property are sold to the highest bidder. It is often used for selling assets like real estate or art.
2What is corporate governance?
Corporate governance refers to the systems and processes that direct and control a company. It encompasses the relationships among stakeholders and the goals for which the corporation is governed.
3What are debt instruments?
Debt instruments are financial assets that represent a loan made by an investor to a borrower. They include bonds, loans, and debentures.
4What is an investment?
An investment is an asset or item acquired with the goal of generating income or appreciation. Investments can include stocks, bonds, real estate, and more.
