Commencing flights from St. Petersburg to Gelendzhik by SmartAvia starting in August

Commencing flights from St. Petersburg to Gelendzhik by SmartAvia starting in August

After a prolonged closure since February 2022, Gelendzhik Airport in Russia is set to reopen for domestic flights on July 18, 2025. The airport, located on the Black Sea coast near Crimea, will initially operate up to three flights per day, with the focus on domestic routes.

One of the notable routes announced is the Moscow-Gelendzhik flight, to be operated by Aeroflot. The operating hours for these flights will be from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm Moscow time, offering a convenient morning schedule for travellers. The flights will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The reopening of Gelendzhik Airport is significant as it caters to the large tourist flow in the region. With around 400,000 people currently vacationing in Krasnodar territory, the airport's resumption is expected to improve logistics and support tourism.

The airport has been certified safe to resume operations by Russia’s federal aviation agency Rosaviatsiya and the State Corporation for Air Traffic Management, following security concerns amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The newly built terminal at the airport is capable of handling over 900 passengers per hour and more than one million passengers annually. However, a detailed schedule beyond the Moscow connection and the three flights per day limit is yet to be publicly specified.

The reopening of Gelendzhik Airport marks an incremental step in restoring air traffic in southern Russia amid ongoing regional tensions. The resumption of flights may lead to an increase in tourism to the region, affecting the travel plans of many who were previously unable to travel due to the closure.

[1] [Gelendzhik Airport to Reopen for Domestic Flights](https://www.tass.ru/ekonomica/11864643) [2] [Rosaviatsiya Confirms Gelendzhik Airport's Safety for Reopening](https://www.interfax.ru/russia/787253) [3] [Gelendzhik Airport's Reopening to Boost Tourism in Krasnodar Region](https://www.kp.ru/daily/27474/4439394/) [4] [Aeroflot to Operate Moscow-Gelendzhik Flights Upon Airport's Reopening](https://www.aeroflot.ru/media-center/news/2025/06/25/aeroflot-to-operate-moscow-gelendzhik-flights-upon-airports-reopening)

1. As Gelendzhik Airport resumes operations with a focus on domestic routes, it is anticipated that this development will have a positive impact on the industry and finance sectors, especially in the transportation segment, by improving logistics and supporting tourism.
2. The aviation industry could witness significant growth in the southern region of Russia following the reopening of Gelendzhik Airport, as this move is expected to increase travel and impact the lifestyle of many, thereby boosting the tourist inflow and further stimulating the local economy.
3. The reopening of Gelendzhik Airport will not only benefit the local transportation and tourism sectors, but it may also create opportunities in the finance sector, as increased tourism could lead to an uptick in consumer spending related to travel and leisure activities.

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