Khaydarken Airport

The closure was primarily due to economic reasons. The collapse of the Soviet Union's centralized economy led to a severe economic downturn in Kyrgyzstan. The airport's viability was directly tied to the Khaydarken Mercury Plant, the town's main employer. As the plant's production and importance waned, passenger and cargo traffic plummeted, making the airport financially unsustainable. The high costs of maintenance, fuel, and aircraft upkeep without state support rendered it inoperable.

The airport is completely abandoned and defunct. Satellite imagery shows the single runway is still clearly visible but is in a state of severe disrepair, with vegetation overgrowth and dirt tracks crossing it. The former terminal and support buildings are derelict. The site is not used for any aviation purposes and appears to be informally used by locals as open land. There is no security or maintenance of the infrastructure.

During the Soviet era, Khaydarken Airport was a crucial transportation hub for the strategic mining town of Khaydarken (now Aydarken). The town was home to one of the largest mercury mines in the world, and the airport provided a vital link for transporting personnel, specialists, equipment, and mail to and from this remote mountainous region. It connected Khaydarken with major cities in the Kirghiz SSR, such as Frunze (now Bishkek) and Osh. Operations were typically handled by the Aeroflot Kirghiz Directorate, utilizing small, rugged aircraft suitable for short, unpaved runways, such as the Antonov An-2 and possibly the Let L-410 Turbolet or Antonov An-24.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Khaydarken Airport. The significant cost of rebuilding the runway, terminal, and navigation infrastructure is prohibitive. Furthermore, the town's population and economic output do not generate sufficient demand to support a commercial airport. Regional air travel needs are served by the larger Batken International Airport, located approximately 75 kilometers away by road. Given these factors, the reopening of Khaydarken Airport is considered highly unlikely.