SVO

Airport guide

Sheremetyevo International Airport

Moscow, Russia

Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) is the main long-haul gateway in Moscow and one of the most useful Russian airports to know when an AWB moves between airline scans and terminal-handling updates.

IATA / ICAO

SVO / UUEE

Carrier pages

5 supported carriers

AWB prefixes

000, 216, 358, 410, 740, 999

Why It Matters

Cargo relevance for tracking

SVO matters because Aeroflot Cargo, Chinese airlines, and local handlers like SherCargo and Moscow Cargo can all appear in the same shipment chain. If a shipment enters Russia here, the next visible update often comes from the terminal operator rather than the airline itself.

At SVO, the quickest clue is usually the airline behind the AWB prefix: Aeroflot Cargo, Sheremetyevo Cargo, and Moscow Cargo. If the route includes this airport, start with the carrier page before assuming the shipment is idle. Useful prefixes here include 000, 216, 358, 410. When those numbers match the shipment, Parcels usually gives clearer context than a destination-only airport scan.

Cargo Flow

How cargo usually moves through SVO

SVO usually sees cargo arrive by truck from forwarders, shippers, or another airport station, then move through document checks, security screening, and warehouse acceptance before it ever gets near an aircraft. At Sheremetyevo International Airport, that handoff often means the freight is accepted into Aeroflot Cargo, Sheremetyevo Cargo, and Moscow Cargo workflows, where the AWB, piece count, weight, and destination all need to line up before build-up starts.

At airports like SVO, a lot of cargo still rides in the belly hold of passenger aircraft, so timing depends on both warehouse handling and the passenger flight schedule. After arrival, the freight is unloaded, checked, moved into an import shed, and either transferred onward, presented to customs, or released to a local handler once the paperwork is complete.

Acceptance

Cargo usually reaches SVO by truck or feeder flight, then enters a cargo terminal where staff verify the AWB, weight, pieces, labels, and any special handling notes.

Screening And Build-Up

After acceptance, freight is screened, sorted, and built into pallets or ULD containers. Dangerous goods, perishables, valuables, and pharma shipments may follow stricter handling lanes.

Ramp Loading

Once the flight is ready, the cargo unit is staged near the aircraft, loaded onto the ramp dollies or loaders, and matched against the load plan so it leaves on the correct sector.

Breakdown And Transfer

When freight lands, handlers unload it, scan it into the warehouse, break down the ULD if needed, and decide whether it is for local release or for another outbound connection from SVO.

Customs And Release

The last visible airport phase is usually customs presentation, broker processing, or handover to a consignee trucker. That is why an airport scan can be followed by a long quiet period before final delivery starts.

Airlines

Airlines strongly tied to SVO

Aeroflot Cargo Supported

Aeroflot Cargo

Home hub

Sheremetyevo Cargo Supported

Sheremetyevo Cargo

Cargo terminal operator

Moscow Cargo Supported

Moscow Cargo

Cargo terminal operator

Air China Cargo Supported

Air China Cargo

Asia operator

AirBridgeCargo Supported

AirBridgeCargo

Heavy cargo operator

Context And History

History, trivia, and notable moments

History

  • Sheremetyevo grew into Moscow's main long-haul airport and remains closely tied to Aeroflot's network.
  • The airport is a common Russian entry point for cargo arriving from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Trivia

  • SherCargo and Moscow Cargo are both names that regularly appear in Russian AWB tracking.
  • A quiet airline timeline can still be followed by a fresh terminal scan once freight reaches SVO.

Related AWB Prefixes

Useful prefixes for SVO

000

AWB prefix

Supported
216

AWB prefix

Supported
358

AWB prefix

Supported
410

AWB prefix

Supported
740

AWB prefix

Supported
999

AWB prefix

Supported

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