Anapa Airport says it is ready to resume operations after four years of shutdown

Ready to launch, but no date named

Anapa Airport will be able to resume receiving passenger aircraft in the shortest possible time as soon as the authorities allow flights. This was stated in an interview with the magazine Expert by Aerodinamika holding CEO Alexey Starostin, who did not name a specific date for the resumption of flights. Civil aircraft have not been accepted in Anapa since February 24, 2022, when flight restrictions were imposed for security reasons in a number of regions in southern Russia.

What has been done during the shutdown

Despite the more than four-year break, the air hub, according to Starostin, has retained the necessary infrastructure and personnel. During the shutdown, the old international terminal was completely reconstructed and the surrounding area was landscaped, and a railway station appeared next to the airport. Staff undergo training and certification twice a year, before the autumn-winter and spring-summer seasons, and also confirm their knowledge of transport security and emergency rescue requirements. According to the holding's head, these measures will make it possible to quickly launch passenger and airline services once the restrictions are lifted.

Context: neighboring airports are already operating

Notably, Anapa remains the last closed air hub in this part of southern Russia: in 2025, the airports of Gelendzhik and Krasnodar resumed operations. Life.ru also previously reported that a free dating service was launched at Gelendzhik Airport for passengers — the platform allows travelers to communicate while waiting for flights, including during delays caused by temporary flight restrictions. Thus, neighboring airports already have experience of resuming operations, but the launch date for the Anapa air hub remains unknown — the decision depends on the authorities.