Torktul Airport

The primary reason was economic collapse following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The centralized, state-funded Aeroflot system that operated and subsidized these small local airfields was dismantled. The newly independent Republic of Kyrgyzstan lacked the financial resources and the operational structure to maintain the extensive network of rural airstrips. The demand for local air services, such as agricultural aviation and subsidized passenger flights, also plummeted during the economic turmoil of the period.

The airport is completely closed and defunct. High-resolution satellite imagery confirms that the site is no longer used for aviation. The faint outline of the former unpaved runway is still visible, but the land has been reclaimed for agricultural use. The area is now divided into farm plots and is crisscrossed by farm tracks. There is no remaining aviation infrastructure, such as buildings, hangars, or navigational aids, on the site.

Torktul Airport was a typical Soviet-era rural airfield, part of the vast 'Local Air Lines' (Местные воздушные линии - MVL) network. Its purpose was to connect remote agricultural communities like Zarger with regional centers, primarily Osh. Operations handled by the airfield included:
1. **Agricultural Aviation:** Crop dusting and aerial application of fertilizers for the surrounding collective farms.
2. **Passenger and Cargo Transport:** Providing essential transport links for people and light goods.
3. **Medical and Emergency Services:** Serving as a base for air ambulance and other emergency flights.
The airfield was designed for STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft, with the Antonov An-2 being the most common type of aircraft to operate from such strips.

There are no known or credible plans to reopen Torktul Airport. The government of Kyrgyzstan has expressed interest in reviving some of its larger regional airports, but a small, rural airstrip like Torktul, whose physical infrastructure has been repurposed for agriculture, is not considered a viable candidate for reactivation. The economic case for rebuilding and operating such a small field is non-existent in the current environment.