Krapivye Airport

Primarily economic reasons following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The state-subsidized network of local air services (Местные воздушные линии - MVL) became financially unviable. The sharp increase in fuel costs, coupled with a dramatic drop in passenger demand and the aging of the An-2 fleet, led to the cessation of regular flights across many small regional airports in Russia, including Suzdal's.

The airfield is largely defunct for regular aviation but remains in use for specific events and general aviation. Its most prominent current use is as the launch site for the annual 'Golden Ring of Russia' Air Balloon Festival (Фестиваль воздухоплавания 'Золотое кольцо России'), which attracts participants from all over the country. The unpaved runway and open space are also occasionally used by general aviation enthusiasts, ultralight aircraft, and paragliders. The original airport infrastructure, such as the terminal building, is mostly dilapidated or has been removed.

Krapivye Airport was a key regional air hub, primarily serving the significant tourism industry of Suzdal, a major city in Russia's 'Golden Ring'. During its active years in the Soviet era, it handled regular passenger flights on small, rugged aircraft like the Antonov An-2 and Yakovlev Yak-12. These flights connected Suzdal with nearby regional centers such as Vladimir and Ivanovo, and provided a vital and rapid link for the thousands of tourists visiting the historic city's monasteries and monuments. It was an essential piece of the local tourism infrastructure before the widespread adoption of modern road transport.

There are concrete and well-publicized plans to revive the airport. Driven by the 1000th anniversary of Suzdal in 2024, regional and federal authorities have initiated a project to reconstruct the airfield. The plan includes building a new modern passenger terminal and constructing a new, paved runway (approximately 1400-1800 meters long) to accommodate modern regional aircraft (such as the L-410 or similar) and business jets. The primary goal is to boost high-end tourism by providing a direct air link to Suzdal, bypassing the current need to travel via train to Vladimir and then by road. The project gained significant momentum ahead of the 2024 anniversary celebrations, with active development and construction phases planned to make the airport operational again for small-scale commercial and private aviation.