Former Kerki Airport

The airport was closed due to its replacement by the new, modern Kerki International Airport (ICAO: UTAK), which opened in June 2021. The old airport was obsolete, with a short runway and outdated infrastructure incapable of handling modern jet aircraft or meeting international aviation standards. The construction of the new airport was part of a national strategy by the Turkmenistan government to modernize its transportation infrastructure.

The site of the former airport is currently abandoned and non-operational. Satellite imagery of the coordinates shows a clearly defined but deteriorating runway and taxiways. The former terminal and support buildings appear to be derelict. The land is not being actively used for aviation, and the infrastructure is slowly decaying. There is no public access, and the site is not maintained.

Dating back to the Soviet era, the former Kerki Airport served as a crucial regional aerodrome for the Lebap Province. Its primary role was to provide domestic air links for passengers and cargo, connecting the city of Kerki (formerly Atamyrat) with the capital, Ashgabat, and other regional centers. Operations were typically handled by small, rugged Soviet-era aircraft, such as the Antonov An-2 and An-24. It was a vital transportation hub for this relatively remote region, supporting essential travel, mail services, and medical transport for decades.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the former Kerki Airport. All aviation services and investment have been permanently transferred to the new Kerki International Airport, located just a few kilometers to the northwest. The old site is considered completely obsolete, and its reopening would be economically and logistically unfeasible. The land may eventually be redeveloped for other purposes.