Gelendzhik Airport, closed since 2022, is set to resume flight operations next week, according to the Ministry of Transport. The first flights are scheduled for July 18, initially limited to daytime hours due to operational restrictions.

Aeroflot is expected to be the first airline to resume services to Gelendzhik. Details regarding the flight schedule and destinations are currently being finalized.

While the airport administration initially claimed to be unaware of the reopening plans, the Ministry of Transport has confirmed the information, stating that Gelendzhik Airport is one of eleven southern Russian airports that have been closed since 2022 due to security concerns.

The Ministry of Transport announced on its Telegram channel that the airport is planned to reopen for domestic flights in the near future, with ticket sales commencing after the official notification is issued.

Rosaviatsia and the State Air Traffic Management Corporation have confirmed the safety of flights to Gelendzhik Airport.

The airport’s capacity was doubled with the construction of a new terminal in 2021. Further infrastructure updates are planned for completion by the end of 2025, according to the Ministry of Transport.

In related news, Elista Airport, also located in the South of Russia, resumed operations in May of last year. During the first half of 2025, it served approximately 29,000 passengers across 324 flights.

Reports surfaced in February indicating that airports in southern Russia, including those in Krasnodar, Anapa, Gelendzhik, Simferopol, and Rostov, which have been closed since 2022, were advertising new job openings for ground service personnel and passenger service roles.