St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport has introduced a new taxi service arrangement tied to collaboration with Yandex Taxi. Reports from TASS, citing the airport operator Air Gates of the Northern Capital, confirm the changes are now in effect. The key feature is a dedicated parking area labeled as an accumulation zone where drivers affiliated with Yandex Taxi can wait and pick up passengers. This zone, allocated as a P9 lot for 44 vehicles, sits approximately 100 meters from the terminal exit, making the transition from curb to vehicle swift and efficient for arriving travelers. The practical impact for passengers is that a wait to reach a vehicle outside the terminal is minimized, and the process is designed to streamline the on-site passenger experience while maintaining a clear separation between ride-hailing pickups and traditional taxi stands. A typical pickup from the first line at the terminal exit now hinges on the availability of a taxi with specific tariff options, which have been highlighted as Comfort + or Ultima, ensuring that passengers can choose a level of service that aligns with their comfort and budget preferences. The airport’s general manager, Leonid Sergeev, representing the managing company Air Gates of the Northern Capital, clarified that the Economy tariff will remain an option for calling a taxi through year-end, preserving accessibility for travelers who seek a more economical ride option without compromising the efficiency of the pickup process. This layered tariff approach is part of a broader effort to harmonize airport operations with evolving mobility services while keeping the flow of travelers seamless during peak periods and high-traffic windows. The move follows a prior notification from the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), which issued a formal warning to the principal operator of Pulkovo concerning certain aspects of the prevailing market conditions and the implementation of the new pickup scheme. The regulatory communication underscored the importance of fair access for competing transport providers while maintaining clear rules for customers to avoid confusion at the curb and to ensure consistent service standards during the transition. The changes at Pulkovo reflect a growing trend among major hubs to integrate ride-hailing platforms with traditional airport logistics, balancing speed, convenience, and price transparency for travelers who value predictability in their arrival and departure experiences. As travelers adapt to the new system, the airport plans to monitor performance closely, gather feedback from both drivers and passengers, and adjust operational details to keep wait times minimal and curbside operations orderly. Industry observers note that the arrangement, while specific to Pulkovo, mirrors global shifts toward hybrid pickup models that combine fixed-structure queues with on-demand mobility services, offering travelers more choices without sacrificing reliability. The airport authority emphasizes that all changes are designed to support a smooth passenger journey from gate to vehicle, with the goal of reducing congestion at the terminal and improving overall transit times for those who opt for ride-hailing services. The collaboration with Yandex Taxi stands as part of a wider strategy to leverage technology and data to optimize airport mobility, ensuring that travelers in Russia and visiting international passengers experience predictable, comfortable, and timely transfers at the point of arrival, backed by clear pricing and service options. Marked citations attributed to TASS and the Air Gates of the Northern Capital organization confirm the official stance and the operational details of the new pickup configuration. For travelers navigating Pulkovo, the key takeaway is simple: plan for a brief walk to the P9 area if choosing a ride through Yandex Taxi, be aware of the available tariffs, and expect a quick vehicle handoff once the curbside pickup is requested. The changes aim to enhance the airport experience by aligning ride-hailing activities with established terminal operations, ensuring efficiency while preserving the flexibility that modern travelers expect from their transportation options.
Truth Social Media News Pulkovo Airport Debuts Yandex Taxi Accumulation Zone and New Pickup Tariffs
on17.10.2025