Karachayevsk Airfield

The airfield was closed due to the widespread economic collapse following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The system of state-subsidized regional air travel became financially unviable, leading to a drastic reduction in local flights, a sharp decline in passenger demand, and a complete lack of funding for maintaining the airport's operations and infrastructure.

The airfield is completely abandoned and non-operational. Satellite imagery confirms the presence of a single runway which is heavily degraded, unmaintained, and being reclaimed by grass and vegetation. The former terminal and service buildings are in a state of dereliction or have been repurposed for other uses, such as storage. The area is reportedly used by local residents for grazing cattle and as an informal driving practice area. There is no remaining aviation infrastructure, and the site is unfit for any flight operations.

Karachayevsk Airfield was a small regional airport typical of the Soviet era, primarily serving as a vital transportation link for the remote, mountainous town of Karachayevsk. Its main operations involved local air lines connecting to regional hubs such as Stavropol, Krasnodar, and Sukhumi. Flights were predominantly operated using rugged and versatile Antonov An-2 biplanes, which were ideal for short, unpaved runways and handled passenger, mail, and light cargo transport. The airfield also served as a base for the local DOSAAF (Voluntary Society for Cooperation with the Army, Aviation, and Navy) club, which used the facility for activities like parachute jumping and primary flight training, making it a center for civilian sport and pre-military education.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the old Karachayevsk Airfield. Its infrastructure is considered obsolete, and the runway is too short and deteriorated to accommodate modern passenger aircraft. While the government of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic has discussed improving air connectivity to boost tourism to resorts like Dombay and Arkhyz, these plans focus on the potential construction of a new, modern airport at a different location within the republic. The old Karachayevsk site is not considered a candidate for restoration.