Piirissaar Airfield

The closure was due to a combination of economic and logistical factors. The primary reasons include: 1) **Economic Non-viability:** The cost of maintaining the airfield and subsidizing flights for a very small, declining island population was excessively high. 2) **Availability of Alternatives:** The introduction of a modern, state-subsidized hovercraft provided a more reliable and cost-effective year-round transport solution, especially during the difficult spring and autumn ice-breakup periods that the air service was designed to cover. The hovercraft made the air connection redundant. 3) **Aircraft Obsolescence:** The rugged Antonov An-2 aircraft traditionally used for the service was aging and no longer available, and finding a suitable, certified replacement aircraft for the short, unpaved runway proved difficult and expensive.

The site is currently an unmaintained grass field. The physical runway strip still exists but is no longer certified or maintained for aviation operations. It is not used for any official purpose and has reverted to being a simple meadow. All transport to and from the island is now handled by a ferry during the summer and a hovercraft during other periods.

Piirissaar Airfield was never a commercial airport in the traditional sense, but rather a vital, state-supported lifeline for the remote island of Piirissaar in Lake Peipus. Its main purpose was to ensure connectivity with the mainland (typically Tartu) during the transitional 'rasputitsa' seasons in spring and autumn. In these periods, the lake ice was too thin for an ice road but too thick for ferry services, isolating the community. The airfield handled on-demand flights for residents, medical emergencies, mail, and essential supplies. The service was a critical piece of infrastructure that prevented the island from being completely cut off for weeks at a time, playing a crucial role in the community's survival and well-being.

There are no known official plans or realistic prospects for reopening the Piirissaar Airfield for regular flights. The factors that led to its closure—high costs, low passenger numbers, and the successful implementation of a reliable hovercraft service—remain unchanged. The significant investment required to re-certify the airfield and procure a suitable aircraft is considered unjustifiable given the effective alternative transport solutions now in place.