Yeysk is one of the popular resorts of the Krasnodar Territory located on the coast of the Sea of Azov. Thousands of tourists with children from all over our country come here every year. They like the mild climate of the Yeisk region, the clear warm sea, the gentle sun, healing mud and golden sand that covers the entire coast.
There are various ways to get to the resorts of the Sea of Azov. It can be a high-speed train, a comfortable intercity bus or a personal car. But modern people who value their time, almost always prefer to travel by air. Speed is the main advantage of an airplane.
Location
But is there an airport in Yeysk? Yes, it is located just five kilometers southwest of the village, which makes it convenient for trips to the resorts of the Sea of Azov. If desired, the airport can be quickly reached by taxi or public transport.
But does the airport in Yeysk today work for ordinary tourists? Unfortunately not. In the summer season of 2016, Yeysk airport, however, as in previous years, will not accept civil aviation. However, this was not always the case.
The history of the airport and its closure
The airport of Yeisk begins its history in the early fifties of the twentieth century. A small one-story terminal building appears here, which fully meets the needs of local airline passengers between the cities of Yeysk - Rostov-on-Don, Yeysk - Krasnodar. In those days, flights were carried out on An-2 aircraft daily for 6-8 round-trip flights.
With the commissioning in 1980 of a new, beautiful building, Yeisk Airport expands the geography of its flights. New directions Krasnodar - Yeysk - Mariupol - Donetsk become available to its passengers. Time moves, and gradually the An-2 is replaced by new Czech-made L-410 turboprops. The airport is developing.
But in 1993, all air travel ceased. In 1995, the airport was completely closed due to lack of funding, all qualified personnel are fired.
The revival of passenger traffic and their cessation
Yeysk Airport for civil aviation was revived in 2000, when, with the support of the city authorities, the old airport terminal building was restored and equipped with all necessary equipment, communications and control facilities.
Starting June 10, 2000, flights on An-24 planes of the Moscow Karat airline to Moscow (Vnukovo) begin to be carried out regularly.
Since 2006, Yeisk Airport has been granted admission to the acceptance of Tu-134 aircraft. The flight time on the route Moscow - Yeysk is halved. Moscow is becoming a priority airport destination, charter flights are also carried out.
Since 2009, Yeisk Airport has been under the control of Basel Aero and has become the base of the YugLine airline, with a fleet of fifteen aircraft.
In 2010, UTair Airlines begins regular flights on the route Moscow - Yeysk.
But in 2012, the airfield ceases to serve passenger flights and is completely closed to civil aviation. Partially, it is transferred to the military under an air base, the construction of a new training complex for the Russian armed forces begins.
Development plans
Today, Yeysk Airport has three runways, two of which are asphalt concrete, and one is unpaved. Also available is a permission to accept Yak-42, Tu-134, CRJ-200 aircraft and helicopters of any type.
While there is a repair of the runways, passenger transportation is not carried out. However, there is hope that they will resume. The reconstruction of the lanes is nearing completion, and in the future it is planned to carry out the transportation of civilians not only in the well-known direction Moscow - Yeysk, but also launch a new one: St. Petersburg - Yeysk.
With its opening, Yeisk Airport will undoubtedly contribute to an increase in tourist flow and the development of the resort infrastructure of the region.
The nearest airports to Yeysk
In the meantime, residents and guests of Yeysk can only watch military aircraft training above their heads. To use the services of passenger air carriers themselves, they need to cover the distance to the nearest airports in Rostov-on-Don (220 km) or Krasnodar (250 km) by regular bus or taxi.