Karymay Airport

The closure was primarily due to economic reasons. The airfield was a specialized, state-funded facility supporting the Karymsky Volcano Station. With the severe reduction in government funding for scientific research and remote infrastructure in the post-Soviet era, the airfield became economically unviable to maintain and operate. Logistical needs for the station were subsequently met by more flexible helicopter transport.

The airfield is completely abandoned and derelict. High-resolution satellite imagery confirms that the unpaved runway is heavily overgrown with grass and shrubs, making it completely unusable for any aviation purposes. There are no remaining buildings, aircraft, or signs of maintenance or human activity at the site. It exists only as a faint scar on the remote landscape.

Karymsky Airfield was of significant scientific and logistical importance during the Soviet era. Its sole purpose was to serve the Karymsky Volcano Station, operated by the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. It acted as a vital lifeline for transporting volcanologists, scientific personnel, food, supplies, and equipment to this extremely remote outpost. Operations were typically handled by rugged, short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) aircraft, such as the Antonov An-2, which were capable of using the unpaved runway. The airfield enabled the continuous, on-site monitoring and study of one of Kamchatka's most active and dangerous volcanoes.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Karymsky Airfield. The significant cost required to clear, restore, and maintain a runway and support infrastructure in such a remote and harsh environment is prohibitive. Furthermore, any current logistical requirements for scientific activity in the area can be met more efficiently by helicopters, which do not require a fixed runway. Its revival is considered highly improbable.