Krasnodar Airport commenced preparations for flight operations on the morning of September 11. The inaugural flight, an Aeroflot aircraft from Moscow, is slated for arrival on September 17, approximately at 10 AM. This reopening raises questions about potential changes to travel routes and airfare.
Krasnodar Airport, which had been non-operational since the commencement of the Special Military Operation (SMO), has now reopened for passenger flights. Speculation about the imminent resumption of services at this air hub circulated widely in the southern region for about a year, even preceding the reopening of Gelendzhik Airport in July.
For a long time, residents of Krasnodar attempting to call the airport for updates were met with a pre-recorded message dating back to 2022. This automated response remained active even as the Ministry of Transport finally delivered the eagerly anticipated news of the airport`s reopening.
Throughout its period of restricted operations, the airport maintained a state of full readiness. Instead of layoffs, staff members were deployed to Sochi for training, as Sochi had become the primary transportation hub for Russia`s Southern region and frequently struggled with the increased passenger volume. Previously, traveling to Krasnodar from Moscow or St. Petersburg involved a four-hour flight to Sochi, followed by a six-hour journey on the “Lastochka” train or an even longer bus ride. The opening of Gelendzhik Airport offered some relief, cutting travel time to 2.5-3 hours. However, the recent announcement of Krasnodar Airport`s reopening has created immense excitement across local social media, with residents expressing genuine joy that their local airport is finally accessible again, as noted by Anton Misulis, Deputy General Director of Business FM – Krasnodar:
— “The news of the airport`s reopening has truly resonated, flooding social media groups and residential chats, including my own, with over a hundred messages. This is, in fact, a deeply anticipated event for our city. Residents of Krasnodar have keenly felt the absence of direct flights to other cities from their local airport. We eagerly await the announcement of flight destinations, especially as a new terminal is under active construction and airport access roads are being upgraded. All efforts are directed towards re-establishing Krasnodar as a key hub for passengers, airlines, and tourists.”
— “Are residents not worried about how safe it will be under current conditions?”
— “I don`t believe there are significant safety worries. Operations will mirror those in Gelendzhik, where daily drone warnings lead to temporary flight restrictions. Naturally, no aircraft will be cleared for takeoff or landing during such alerts.”
Airport personnel are currently engaged in testing security equipment, such as metal detectors, and flight information display systems, which at present show only a placeholder schedule. The confirmed flight roster is expected to be released in a week. On September 17, Aeroflot is set to operate the inaugural flight to Krasnodar, departing from Vnukovo at 6:30 AM and arriving at 10:25 AM, with a total travel duration of 3 hours and 55 minutes.
Despite the early morning departure time, tickets for this flight were snapped up within the first ninety minutes of sales opening, starting at 11,000 rubles. The fervor for direct flights to Krasnodar is exceptionally high, according to Artem Kuzmin, Deputy Director for Aviation Market Development at Tutu travel service:
“We are indeed witnessing significant demand. The estimated one-way fare from Moscow to Krasnodar is anticipated to range between 7,000 and 10,000 rubles. However, as more airlines begin to serve this route, we expect prices for travelers to gradually decrease. Over time, Krasnodar could potentially handle 2-3% of Russia`s total passenger traffic. Tickets are available for both immediate and future travel dates. While there`s a higher initial rush for nearby dates, additional tickets will become available as more carriers confirm their direct flight schedules to Krasnodar.”
Artem Kuzmin
Deputy Director for Aviation Market Development at Tutu travel service
Aeroflot has declared its intention to launch direct flights to Krasnodar from several major Russian cities, including St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Ufa, Kazan, and Novosibirsk. Furthermore, there are plans to reinstate international routes from Krasnodar to Yerevan, Istanbul, and Dubai.
Beyond Aeroflot, Pobeda Airlines has also announced direct flights to Krasnodar, with its inaugural service scheduled for September 19. Nordwind is expected to recommence flights from Kazan starting with the winter season.
According to tour operators, the reopening of Krasnodar Airport is projected to boost tourist traffic to the region`s resorts by a significant 35%. This increase is expected to be evident as early as the upcoming “velvet season” this autumn.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth