🇦🇿 Khojaly Airport

Khojaly Airport (also known as Stepanakert Airport) (IATA: none, ICAO: UBBS) is a defunct airport located in Khojaly, Azerbaijan, approximately 10 kilometers northeast of Stepanakert (Khankendi).

Type of facility and operations: The airport was constructed and active during the Soviet period, serving regular passenger flights from Yerevan to Stepanakert. It is classified as both a military and civilian airport.

Notable features or history:

• The airport ceased operations in 1990 due to the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
• From 1992 to 2023, it was under the control of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh.
• Renovations began in 2009, including a new passenger terminal and repairs to the main runway. The terminal was expected to be completed by November 2010, though this was delayed.
• The airport was intended to have regular flight services to Yerevan, Armenia, operated by the state-owned carrier Artsakh Air.
• Azerbaijan regained control of the airport in the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh.
• The airport has one asphalt runway, designated 05/23, measuring 2,178 by 37 meters (7,146 ft × 121 ft).
• Plans are underway to extend the runway to 3,000 meters in length and 60 meters in width, and to optimize the airport's overall area to 177.27 hectares.

Current status: Khojaly Airport is currently defunct. Azerbaijan considers it to be of great strategic importance for the region, and improvement work is planned to develop its infrastructure.

*Sources researched: en.wikipedia.org, report.az, ourairports.com, thepilotsdesk.com, azerbaijan.az*