Sary Agach Airport

Primarily economic reasons. The dissolution of the Soviet Union ended the centrally planned and heavily subsidized Aeroflot system. The new government of Kazakhstan could not afford to maintain the vast network of small, local airports. Sary Agach Airport suffered from a sharp decline in passenger traffic, a lack of funding for maintenance of the runway and facilities, and the high cost of fuel and aircraft upkeep, rendering it economically non-viable.

The airport is abandoned and in a state of complete disrepair. Satellite imagery shows the single runway (approximately 1500 meters long) is still clearly visible but is cracked, weathered, and has vegetation growing on it. The apron and taxiways are similarly degraded. The original terminal building and any associated structures are either derelict or have been demolished. The site is not used for any aviation purposes and is effectively a brownfield property.

During the Soviet era, Sary Agach Airport was a key regional transportation hub. Its primary role was to connect the Sary-Agach district with the regional capital, Shymkent (then Chimkent), and other cities in the Kazakh SSR. It was particularly important for tourism, as Sary-Agach is a famous balneological resort town known for its mineral water sanatoriums, attracting visitors from across the Soviet Union. The airport typically handled small, short-haul passenger and utility aircraft such as the Antonov An-2, and likely the Let L-410 Turbolet or Yakovlev Yak-40 for passenger flights.

There are official plans and a stated desire to reopen the airport. Since 2018, the Akimat (regional government) of the Turkistan Region has announced plans to revive the airport to boost the tourism potential of the Sary-Agach resort area. The project, included in the region's 2021-2025 development plan, involves finding a private investor to fully reconstruct the facility. The proposal includes extending the runway to 2,800 meters and building a new modern terminal capable of handling larger aircraft like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. However, as of early 2024, construction has not commenced, and the project's timeline remains dependent on securing investment and final approvals.