Glavgosexpertiza of Russia has issued a positive conclusion on the project of the Arkhyz airport terminal complex in Karachay-Cherkessia. The project is expected to become the basis for the development of the region's transport infrastructure and increase its tourist accessibility.
According to the press service of the republic's government, after receiving the conclusion, the concessionaires will proceed with further work. The construction of a 25,000 sq. m terminal is planned in the Zelenchuksky district, approximately 40 km from Cherkessk. This will be the first civilian airport in Karachay-Cherkessia.
The project is being implemented by UK "Airports of Regions" jointly with the authorities of the KChR within the framework of a concession agreement signed in July 2024. Evgeny Chudnovsky, General Director of the company, noted that the creation of a new hub will accelerate the development of tourism in the region, where Arkhyz already attracts hundreds of thousands of skiers annually.
The terminal will be designed to serve up to 1,000 passengers per hour. It will include three telescopic gangways, a VIP lounge, as well as standard check-in, security, and waiting areas. A parking lot for 300 cars is provided at the entrance.
Earlier, in March 2026, Glavgosexpertiza approved the first part of the project — the airfield infrastructure. It includes a 3,000 m long runway, taxiways, and parking spaces for Mi-8 and Mi-26 helicopters. In the future, the runway length will be 3.2 km, which will allow receiving aircraft such as Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. The Ministry of Transport also published renderings of the future complex, which show a modern architectural appearance with panoramic windows overlooking the Caucasus Mountains.
The total cost of the project is estimated at 28 billion rubles, and construction is scheduled for completion in 2029. The head of the KChR, Rashid Temrezov, stated in July 2025 that the launch of air service is planned for this date to support the tourist flow. The concession agreement was approved by the parliament of the republic in August 2024, which allowed preparatory work to begin.
