Amangeldy Airfield

Primarily economic reasons following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The centralized, state-subsidized Soviet regional aviation system, which made small airfields like Amangeldy viable, collapsed. With the transition to a market economy, the low-demand routes to remote communities became unprofitable. The high cost of fuel, an aging aircraft fleet (mostly Antonov An-2s), and the decline of the collective farms it served led to the gradual cessation of all regular flights.

The airfield is closed and effectively abandoned. Satellite imagery confirms its disused state. The unpaved dirt or gravel runway, approximately 1,500 meters long, remains clearly visible but is not maintained and is overgrown in places. The small, simple structures that likely served as a terminal and for support are derelict and in a state of severe disrepair. The site is not used for any regular aviation activities and is unsuitable for use without significant renovation.

Amangeldy Airfield was a typical local airport of the Soviet era, an integral part of the extensive 'Local Air Lines' (Местные воздушные линии - МВЛ) network. Its primary function was to connect the remote Amangeldi district with larger regional centers, most notably Arkalyk and the regional capital, Kostanay. Operations were almost exclusively handled by versatile Antonov An-2 biplanes. The airfield supported scheduled passenger and mail services, medical evacuation flights (known as 'sanitary aviation'), and agricultural aviation (crop dusting and aerial application). For decades, it served as a vital transportation link for the local population, especially before the development of reliable, all-weather road networks in the region.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Amangeldy Airfield. While the government of Kazakhstan has periodically discussed programs to revive regional aviation to improve connectivity for remote areas, these efforts are typically focused on larger, more strategically important regional airports. The small population of the Amangeldi district, coupled with improvements in road transport, makes the significant investment required to restore and operate this specific airfield economically unfeasible. Any future air service for the region would more likely be centered at the larger, albeit also struggling, Arkalyk Airport located about 150 km to the southeast.