Pulkovo Airport partners with Kiwi.com to increase ease of transfers

Left to right: Zdenek Komenda KIWI CBDO and Vladimir Yakushev Pulkovo Airport CEO

A new partnership between Pulkovo International St. Petersburg Airport and Kiwi.com – a company which specialises in technological solutions in the travel industry – has been announced, a hosted stopover programme for self-connect and ‘Virtual Interlined’ passengers at Pulkovo Airport.

The new programme will see Pulkovo Airport working with Kiwi.com to deliver a fast, comfortable and hassle-free transfer information for the benefit of passengers and all of the full-service and low-cost airlines operating at the airport. Pulkovo Airport welcomed over 18.1 million passengers in 2018, which represents a 12.4 per cent increase in traffic numbers year-on-year.

The ‘Virtual Interlined’ product will give passengers the backup option that Kiwi.com provides, such as customer service, wayfinding and advanced passenger communication – for example, if a flight is going to be delayed a notification will be sent to a passenger and alternatives suggested. This will be the first self-connect project in Russia’s airport industry.

Using Kiwi.com’s unique algorithms, machine learning capabilities and data insights, passengers from over 150 countries are able to buy more than 3,650 unique flight combinations, across both full service and low-cost airlines, for travel via Pulkovo Airport. 

Vladimir Yakushev, Chief Executive Officer of Pulkovo International Airport operator, Northern Capital Gateway LLC, said: “We are excited to launch the self-connect project at Pulkovo, partnering with Kiwi.com, a global leader in online booking services. Combining St. Petersburg Airport’s excellent transfer infrastructure and perfect location between Europe and Asia with Kiwi’s unique expertise, we strive to develop a revolutionary product on Russia’s market. In partnership with Kiwi.com we will be able to significantly enhance transfer service for travellers, providing passengers with personalised connection offers and the airlines with new market opportunities via St. Petersburg.”

Zdenek Komenda, Chief Business Development Officer at Kiwi.com, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Pulkovo Airport to assist in delivering this transfer product benefiting both passengers and all full-service and low-cost airlines which operate out of this key Russian airport. The airport is growing massively and at Kiwi.com we are matching this growth as we strive to make travel better for both users and providers.”

With more than 40 per cent of global passengers now by-passing traditional booking practices and beginning to create their own itineraries, stopovers and transfers, the new “Virtual Interline” model will be perfectly placed to tap into this growing trend.