"It looks fantastic," the Prime Minister said as he entered the new terminal. "When we were here last year, it felt like a hangar. Now it looks great, well done," Mr Medvedev said.

The Prime Minister asked General Director of Sheremetyevo International Airport Mikhail Vasilenko if the airport was fully ready to receive aircraft and passengers. "We have already received several test flights and checked all the safety systems and passenger services," Mr Vasilenko said. Dmitry Medvedev personally tested the escalators and carefully examined the new hands-free luggage inspection and passenger screening systems.

While inspecting the new international terminal, Mr Medvedev gave instructions to consider maintaining the regular schedule of passenger flights during the APEC summit in Vladivostok. "We need to ensure that people do not suffer," said the Prime Minister.

He also asked how long it had taken to build the new terminal. Mr Vasilenko said the terminal construction took three years to be completed. "It is a convenient and modern airport, everything worked out very well," the Prime Minister said, wrapping up his visit.

The renovation of Vladivostok Airport was part of the preparations for the upcoming APEC summit to be held in Vladivostok in 2012. The airport was included in the federal targeted programme Development of Vladivostok as a Center of International Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region.

The renovation project included the reconstruction of two runways, the construction of a new parking area for wide-body aircraft, as well as taxiways and other infrastructure facilities. The airport is equipped with domestic and international flight terminals and a host of service facilities.

In addition, a railway line has been built to link the city with the airport. In the future, the airport is expected to become a major international air hub.

Dmitry Medvedev travelled to the airport on the Aeroexpress train. The Prime Minister was accompanied by First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, Russian Railways chief Vladimir Yakunin, a number of ministers, and Primorye Territory Governor Vladimir Miklushevsky.

"The train is very nice and convenient," the Prime Minister said and asked Mr Yakunin how long the ride to the airport takes. "The trip takes just 48 minutes, which is twice as fast as before," Mr Yakunin said.