Kolomiya Airport

The airport's civilian passenger operations were discontinued primarily due to economic reasons following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The sharp decline in regional air travel, lack of state funding for subsidizing routes, and the high cost of maintaining aging infrastructure made civilian flights economically unviable. The facility's primary function reverted to being exclusively military.

The site is an active and strategically important military air base for the Ukrainian Air Force, home to the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade. It is not abandoned; the runways, taxiways, and military infrastructure are maintained for military operations. The old civilian terminal and associated infrastructure are defunct and not in use. Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the air base has been a repeated target of Russian missile strikes, underscoring its active military role.

Kolomiya Airport, more accurately known as Kolomyia Air Base (ICAO: UKLO), has a significant military history.

- **Soviet Era:** It was a key Soviet Air Force base. Over the years, it hosted various aviation regiments. Notably, it was home to fighter and bomber units flying aircraft such as the MiG-21, MiG-23, and Su-24.

- **Dual-Use Operations:** While primarily a military installation, it also featured a small civilian terminal. During the Soviet period, the state airline Aeroflot operated regional passenger flights from Kolomiya, connecting the city to other destinations within the Ukrainian SSR and neighboring republics, likely using aircraft like the Antonov An-24.

- **Post-Independence Ukraine:** After Ukraine gained independence in 1991, the air base was transferred to the Ukrainian Air Force. It became the home base for the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade, which operates MiG-29 fighter jets. The civilian passenger services dwindled and eventually ceased completely.

Prior to the 2022 full-scale invasion, there were periodic discussions at the regional government level about reviving the airport for civilian use. The proposals focused on creating a modern dual-use (military/civilian) airport to serve the tourist-heavy Carpathian region, potentially easing the load on Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi airports. However, these plans were in very early stages and required substantial investment. Due to the ongoing war and the base's critical military importance, any prospects for reopening to civilian traffic are indefinitely suspended. The current priority is its function as a key national defense asset.