Norilsk airport becomes international
Norilsk (Alykel) airport named after Nikolay Urvantsev is now open for foreign flights.
1 February 2023On 28 January 2023, a government decree granting it international status was signed. In addition, the Arctic city's air harbour is listed as a federal airport. Alexander Stotsky, General Director of the Project Office for Arctic Development, talks about this.
The new status of Norilsk airport is one of the outcomes of the reconstruction project launched in 2016. The reconstruction was financed through a public-private partnership: RUB 7.5 bn out of a total of RUB 12.5 bn was provided by the federal budget and RUB 5 bn by Nornickel. This has given the airport a modern technical infrastructure, as well as the ability to accommodate virtually all modern aircraft types.
The modernisation of Norilsk airport is a significant step forward in the city's transformation into Russia's stronghold in the Eastern Arctic. This is the role that Norilsk will have to play in the future, as outlined in the City Development Strategy until 2035.
In turn, international status will allow the airport to receive flights from abroad, which will open up Norilsk as one of the destinations for Arctic tourism, which is gaining popularity abroad, including in South-East Asia.