Yamal's Airports See Busy Start to 2024, With Major Upgrades Underway

SALEKHARD, April 14 – Air travel in the Yamal region is off to a strong start this year. Official figures show airlines have served more than 420,000 passengers since January. The busiest hub by a significant margin is Novy Urengoy Airport, which has processed over 230,000 passenger movements. Salekhard and Noyabrsk follow, handling approximately 90,000 and 55,000 passengers respectively.

The most frequent interregional flights connect the regional capital, Salekhar, to Tyumen and Moscow, as well as Nadym to Moscow. Within Yamal, the routes between Salekhard, Novy Urengoy, and Noyabrsk see the highest traffic. For remote communities, helicopter services from Salekhard to settlements in the Yamalsky District are essential. The regional government notes that subsidies are in place for 32 interregional and 28 local routes, with Yamal Airlines offering discounted fares for children from large families.

This growth coincides with a significant push to modernize the region's aviation infrastructure. In Noyabrsk, authorities have begun design work for a new passenger terminal, a project requested by residents during a public forum with Governor Dmitry Artyukhov earlier this year. Salekhard is also slated for a new terminal and a renovation of its existing facility.

Other key projects are already in progress. Nadym has started work on renovating its runway, while Noyabrsk Airport recently redesigned its forecourt area. These follow the 2023 opening of a new terminal in Novy Urengoy and a major overhaul of Nadym's airport grounds, signaling a sustained investment in regional connectivity.