Severouralsk Airport

The closure was a direct result of the severe economic turmoil following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The primary reasons include:
1. **Economic Unviability:** The transition to a market economy ended massive state subsidies for regional aviation, making routes to smaller cities like Severouralsk unprofitable.
2. **Drastic Drop in Demand:** Hyperinflation and economic hardship made air travel unaffordable for the general population, causing passenger traffic to plummet.
3. **Decline of Aeroflot's Regional Divisions:** The monolithic Soviet airline Aeroflot was broken up, and its successor regional airlines struggled to survive without government support.

The airport is completely abandoned and derelict. The paved runway, while still clearly visible, is unmaintained, cracked, and overgrown in places. The passenger terminal building and other airport structures are in a state of ruin, having been vandalized and exposed to the elements for decades. The site is not secured and is unofficially used by local residents for recreational purposes, including unsanctioned car races (drag racing), driver training, and other gatherings. All aviation-related equipment has been removed or destroyed.

Severouralsk Airport (former ICAO: USHS / УСШС) was a crucial transportation link for the northern Ural industrial city of Severouralsk. Its main purpose was to serve the employees of the North-Ural Bauxite Mine (SUBR), a strategically important enterprise for the Soviet aluminum industry. The airport provided a vital connection for passenger and mail transport, primarily to the regional capital Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg) at Koltsovo Airport. Operations were mainly conducted using Soviet regional aircraft such as the Antonov An-24 and Yakovlev Yak-40. For this relatively remote city, the airport was the fastest and most reliable link to the outside world, significantly reducing travel time compared to road or rail.

There are no credible or funded plans for the reopening of Severouralsk Airport. The prospect is considered extremely low to non-existent. The primary obstacles are:
- **Prohibitive Costs:** Restoring the runway, terminal, and installing modern navigation, lighting, and security systems would require massive investment.
- **Lack of Economic Justification:** The city's population has not grown significantly, and it is now adequately connected to Yekaterinburg by an improved road network (a drive of 6-7 hours). The potential passenger demand is far too low to sustain a commercially viable airport.
- **No Government Priority:** Regional aviation development plans in the Sverdlovsk Oblast are focused on other existing or more strategically important airfields. Severouralsk is not considered a priority for restoration.