Zakamensk Airport

The airport's closure was a direct result of the severe economic downturn following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Key factors include: 1) The cessation of state subsidies for regional air travel, which made local routes financially unsustainable. 2) The bankruptcy and closure of the city's primary economic driver, the Dzhidinsky Tungsten-Molybdenum Combine, which drastically reduced passenger and cargo demand. The airport's viability was intrinsically linked to the combine's operations.

The airport is completely abandoned and non-operational. The physical infrastructure, including the single asphalt runway (approximately 1600 meters), taxiways, and terminal building, is in a state of advanced decay. Satellite imagery and local reports show a cracked and overgrown runway, and the buildings are derelict. The site is not secured or maintained and is sometimes used by locals for informal activities such as driving or grazing livestock.

During the Soviet era, Zakamensk Airport was a vital transportation hub for the remote and geographically isolated Zakamensky District. Its primary function was to provide reliable passenger and cargo connections to Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Buryat ASSR. The airport predominantly handled regional aircraft such as the Antonov An-2, Let L-410 Turbolet, and occasionally the larger Antonov An-24. It was crucial for transporting workers and specialists for the Dzhidinsky Combine, delivering mail and essential goods, and facilitating medical aviation (sanaviatisya) and other government administrative flights. For decades, it was the fastest and sometimes only reliable link to the rest of the region, especially during harsh winters.

The government of the Republic of Buryatia has periodically included Zakamensk in long-term strategic plans for the revival of regional aviation. The goal is to improve transport accessibility to remote areas as part of a wider Russian federal program. Discussions about its potential reconstruction have surfaced multiple times over the past decade. However, these plans have not yet translated into concrete action. As of now, there are no funded projects or a definite timeline for the airport's restoration. Its reopening remains a distant prospect, contingent on securing significant federal investment and a demonstrated economic need.