Suzdal Airfield

Primarily economic reasons following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The state-subsidized system of local air travel, which the airfield was part of, became financially unviable. The short distance to the regional capital, Vladimir (approx. 35 km), was more efficiently and cheaply covered by improving road and bus transport, making the air route redundant.

The site is completely abandoned and non-operational. Satellite imagery shows an overgrown, open field where the unpaved runway once was. There are no significant airport buildings or infrastructure remaining. The land is essentially vacant, and the former airfield is not discernible from the ground.

The airfield was an active part of the local air network of the Vladimir Oblast during the Soviet era. Its primary function was to connect the major tourist center of Suzdal with the regional hub in Vladimir and potentially other small towns. Operations were mainly handled by small, versatile aircraft, most notably the Antonov An-2. These flights were crucial for both passenger transport and tourism, providing a rapid connection at a time when road infrastructure was less developed. The airfield also likely supported agricultural aviation (crop dusting) for the surrounding farmlands and sanitary (air ambulance) flights.

There are concrete and officially discussed plans to revive the airfield. The initiative is driven by the goal of increasing tourist access to Suzdal, a key city in Russia's 'Golden Ring'. In preparation for Suzdal's 1000th anniversary in 2024, regional authorities approved a project to construct a new, modern airfield on or near the original site. The plan is not to restore the old An-2 service, but to build a facility capable of handling general aviation aircraft, small business jets, and helicopters for tourists and private visitors. However, the project has faced significant delays. While it was intended to be completed for the 2024 celebrations, as of early 2024, major construction has not been finished, and the final timeline for its opening remains uncertain.