Kashkarantsy Airstrip

The closure was primarily due to economic reasons. After the fall of the USSR, federal subsidies for local air routes (known as 'Mestnye Vozdushnye Linii' or MVL) were terminated. The route became economically unviable due to high fuel and maintenance costs, combined with the low population and passenger demand of the village. The existence of a road connecting Kashkarantsy to the district center of Umba, though challenging, made the air link a lower priority compared to more isolated communities.

The site is completely abandoned and defunct. Satellite imagery of the coordinates reveals the faint, overgrown outline of a single dirt or grass runway. There is no remaining aviation infrastructure, such as a terminal, hangar, or control tower. The land has reverted to a natural field and is not actively used for any purpose.

During the Soviet period, the Kashkarantsy Airstrip was a crucial lifeline for this remote village on the Tersky Coast of the White Sea. It was an integral part of the regional Aeroflot network, connecting the community to larger towns like Umba. Operations were typically handled by rugged Antonov An-2 biplanes, which were capable of landing on the short, unpaved strip. The airstrip facilitated the transport of passengers, mail, essential supplies (food, medicine), and provided critical medical evacuation (sanaviatsiya) services, significantly reducing the village's isolation, especially during severe winters when road travel was difficult or impossible.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening the Kashkarantsy Airstrip for fixed-wing aircraft. The economic factors that led to its closure remain, and the village's population has not grown. While there are occasional discussions in Russia about reviving small regional aviation, the focus for transport on the Tersky Coast has been on improving the quality of the coastal road. Any emergency or specialized transport needs for the area are now met by helicopters, which are more flexible and do not require a prepared runway.