Chapoma Airport

Primarily economic reasons. The airport was part of the Soviet Union's state-funded regional air network, which operated routes that were socially necessary but highly unprofitable. After the USSR's collapse, federal subsidies were eliminated, and the new commercial air carriers could not afford to maintain service to extremely remote and sparsely populated locations like Chapoma. The aging fleet of Antonov An-2 aircraft and the cost of maintaining the unpaved airstrip also contributed to its non-viability.

The airport is completely abandoned and defunct. Satellite imagery of the coordinates shows the faint, overgrown outline of a former north-south runway in a field just east of the village. There is no remaining infrastructure such as a terminal, hangar, or runway markings. The site has reverted to a natural field and is not used for any aviation-related purposes.

During its operational years, Chapoma Airport was a vital lifeline for the isolated village of Chapoma, located on the Tersky Coast of the Kola Peninsula. It provided the only reliable, year-round connection to the outside world for transporting passengers, mail, food, and medical supplies. Operations were typically conducted using rugged Antonov An-2 biplanes, which were capable of landing on the short, unpaved grass/dirt runway. The airport connected Chapoma with other coastal villages and the district center, Umba, playing a crucial role in the social and economic life of the community before a difficult seasonal road was established.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening the airport. The village of Chapoma has a very small population (fewer than 100 residents), making scheduled air service economically impossible without massive subsidies. Regional transportation efforts are focused on maintaining the challenging ground-based routes. The revival of such a small, Soviet-era airfield is not considered a priority.