Salmiyarvi Airport

The closure was primarily for economic reasons. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the state-subsidized regional air travel system collapsed. The airport, which served the local mining industry (Pechenganikel combine, part of Norilsk Nickel), became economically unviable to operate and maintain for the low volume of passenger traffic, especially as road connections to the regional capital of Murmansk improved. It was deemed redundant and too costly to maintain.

The airport is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced decay. Satellite imagery clearly shows the runway, taxiways, and apron are still visible but are cracked, weathered, and being reclaimed by nature. The former terminal building and other support structures are derelict and presumed to be unsalvageable. The site is not used for any active aviation purposes, military or civilian, and is freely accessible to the elements.

Salmiyarvi was a vital civilian airport for the strategic industrial town of Nikel and the surrounding Pechenga District in the Murmansk Oblast. During its operational years, it served as a crucial transportation link for the workers and families of the massive nickel mining and smelting operations. It connected the remote Arctic town to the regional hub of Murmansk and other destinations within the region. The airport primarily handled regional passenger and cargo flights using classic Soviet-era aircraft such as the Antonov An-24, Yakovlev Yak-40, and smaller utility planes like the An-2. It is important to distinguish it from the nearby and more famous Luostari/Korzunovo Air Base (ULMG), which is a military installation where Yuri Gagarin once served; Salmiyarvi was the dedicated civilian facility for Nikel.

There are no known official plans or prospects for reopening Salmiyarvi Airport. The region's civilian air travel needs are served by the much larger Murmansk Airport (MMK), which is approximately 200 km away and connected by a federal highway. The cost of rebuilding the derelict infrastructure to meet modern aviation standards would be substantial and is not justified by current or projected economic demand. Therefore, the prospect of reopening is considered extremely low to non-existent.