Türkmenabat Old Airport

Replacement and Modernization. The primary reason for closure was the construction and opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art international airport. The old Soviet-era facility was outdated, with a smaller terminal, limited passenger capacity, and a shorter runway (approximately 2,750 meters) that could not accommodate larger, modern wide-body aircraft. The new airport was built as part of Turkmenistan's national strategy to modernize its infrastructure, boost international transit potential, and increase both passenger and cargo handling capabilities for the Lebap Region.

The site has been repurposed and is now used as a military airbase. The physical infrastructure, including the runway, taxiways, and aprons, remains intact. Satellite imagery confirms that the facility is maintained and utilized by the Turkmen Air Force for housing and operating military aircraft, likely including transport planes and helicopters. It is no longer a civilian airport and is not accessible to the public.

During the Soviet era, when the city was named Chardzhou, the airport was a significant regional hub with a dual civil-military role. It connected this industrial and transport center with Moscow, other capitals of Soviet republics, and various cities within the Turkmen SSR. It primarily handled Soviet-built aircraft such as the Antonov An-24, Yakovlev Yak-40/42, and Tupolev Tu-134/154. After Turkmenistan's independence in 1991, it continued to serve as the main gateway to the Lebap Region, operated by Turkmenistan Airlines for domestic flights (mainly to Ashgabat) and a limited number of international connections.

There are zero known plans or prospects for reopening the old airport for commercial or civilian use. The government's substantial investment in the new, high-capacity Türkmenabat International Airport has made the old facility completely redundant for civilian aviation. Its role has been permanently superseded, and its future is firmly established as a military installation.