Zhuantobe Airport

The primary reason for the closure was the collapse of the Soviet Union. Zhuantobe was a Soviet-era military airfield. Following the USSR's dissolution, massive military downsizing occurred across the newly independent republics. The airfield was no longer strategically or financially viable for the armed forces of the newly independent Kazakhstan. It was one of many similar military installations in remote locations that were abandoned due to lack of funding and a redefined military doctrine.

The site is completely abandoned and derelict. High-resolution satellite imagery shows the concrete runway, taxiways, and aircraft revetments are still clearly visible but are in a state of extreme disrepair. The surfaces are cracked, weathered, and overgrown with vegetation. Most of the support buildings, including hangars and administrative structures, have been dismantled for materials or have collapsed into ruins. There is no activity on the site, and it is not being used for any other purpose such as agriculture or industry. It stands as a relic of the Cold War era.

Zhuantobe Airport was a typical Soviet Air Force (VVS) dispersal airfield. Its primary role was to serve as a reserve or forward operating base, capable of hosting tactical aircraft like fighters (e.g., MiG-21, MiG-23) or fighter-bombers in the event of a conflict. Its long runway (approximately 2,500 meters) was built to military specifications to handle jet aircraft. In addition to its military function, it likely supported limited local civilian and agricultural aviation, using smaller aircraft like the Antonov An-2 for transport to and from remote settlements in the vast Kazakh Steppe. It was an integral part of the extensive Soviet military infrastructure in the Central Asian Military District.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Zhuantobe Airport. The cost of restoring the runway and rebuilding the entire infrastructure would be prohibitive. Furthermore, its remote location and the lack of significant local economic or demographic drivers mean there is no demand for an airport in the area. The region is served by other, larger airports for any necessary air travel. The airfield is expected to continue its slow decay and will likely never see aviation activity again.