Raduzhny Airport

Primarily economic reasons. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many small regional airports became financially unsustainable. Raduzhny Airport suffered from low passenger traffic, high operational and maintenance costs for its aging infrastructure, and the development of a reliable, all-season road to the much larger Nizhnevartovsk Airport (approx. 160 km away). The consolidation of regional air traffic to larger hubs made the small airport redundant and unprofitable.

The airport is abandoned and derelict. Satellite imagery confirms the site is completely unused for aviation. The single runway, apron, and taxiways are still visible but are in a state of severe disrepair, with vegetation growing through cracks in the pavement. The runway is clearly marked with large white 'X's, the universal symbol for a permanently closed runway. The former terminal and administrative buildings are decaying and unused. The site has not been repurposed and remains a non-operational, abandoned airfield.

Opened in the Soviet era, Raduzhny Airport was a vital transportation link for the oil and gas industry in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. The town of Raduzhny was founded as a home for oil workers, and the airport was crucial for transporting personnel (fly-in/fly-out workers), essential supplies, and local residents. It primarily handled regional flights with turboprop and small jet aircraft like the Antonov An-24, An-26, and Yakovlev Yak-40, as well as extensive helicopter operations (Mil Mi-8) serving the surrounding oil fields. It connected the remote town to regional centers like Nizhnevartovsk, Surgut, and Tyumen.

There are no known official plans, discussions, or credible prospects for reopening Raduzhny Airport. The economic factors that led to its closure remain unchanged. The region is adequately served by the nearby major airports, and the significant investment required to rebuild the runway, terminal, and navigation systems to modern standards is considered economically unviable given the lack of demand.