Gavar Airport

The airport's closure was a direct result of the economic collapse following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The centralized Soviet aviation system (Aeroflot) was dismantled, and the newly independent Republic of Armenia faced a severe economic crisis. This made it financially impossible to continue subsidizing and operating small, regional airports with low traffic volumes. The sharp decline in passenger demand, coupled with the high costs of fuel, aircraft maintenance, and airport infrastructure upkeep, rendered the Gavar-Yerevan route and other potential connections economically unviable.

The airport is completely abandoned and non-operational. Satellite imagery shows a single asphalt runway (approximately 1,900 meters long) that is visibly weathered, cracked, and unusable for aviation. The apron and taxiways are similarly deteriorated. The small terminal building and any associated structures are derelict and have fallen into ruin. The site is unenclosed and is informally used by local residents for various purposes, including grazing livestock, driving practice, and as open space. There are no remaining aviation services, equipment, or personnel.

Constructed during the Soviet era, Gavar Airport (then known as Kamo Airport, as the city was named Kamo from 1959 to 1995) served as a vital regional air link for the Gegharkunik Province. Its primary function was to provide passenger and light cargo services, connecting the industrial city of Gavar and the surrounding Lake Sevan area with the capital, Yerevan, and potentially other towns within the Armenian SSR. Operations were typically conducted using small, robust Soviet-era aircraft designed for short runways, such as the Yakovlev Yak-40 and the Antonov An-24. The airport was an important piece of infrastructure that facilitated faster travel and connectivity in a mountainous country, supporting local administration, industry, and tourism.

Currently, there are no official, concrete plans or active projects for the reopening of Gavar Airport. While the Armenian government has shown a strategic interest in reviving regional aviation to boost tourism and economic development—successfully reopening Kapan Airport in 2023 and discussing plans for airports in Goris and Stepanavan—Gavar has not been named as a priority. The primary obstacle is its relatively close proximity to Yerevan (approx. 90 km), which is now connected by a well-maintained highway, making the business case for short-haul flights weak. Any future consideration for reopening would likely require a significant surge in tourism to the Lake Sevan region that would justify the substantial investment needed to completely rebuild the runway and terminal infrastructure.