Foreign airlines may soon operate at Kamchatka’s main airport, as authorities are currently exploring this possibility.

The new terminal at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky International Airport (MAPK) began handling flights and passengers on March 31, following its official approval for operation on March 18. The authorization was granted by Natalya Andrianova, Deputy Head of Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency.

The first arrival at the new terminal was an Aeroflot flight from Moscow, while the first departure was a Kamchatka Aviation Enterprise Yak-40 bound for Magadan.

With the upcoming peak travel season, the upgraded airport will offer enhanced comfort for passengers. This summer, flights to 16 destinations are scheduled, including new routes to Yekaterinburg and St. Petersburg starting May 21, operated by Ural Airlines. These flights will run three times a week (Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays) on A320neo aircraft. During peak periods, four daily flights from Moscow are expected.

Aeroflot’s CEO recently informed the Russian President that the airline is pushing for legislative changes to facilitate wet leasing of foreign aircraft, which would expand fleet capacity and improve transport accessibility nationwide.

Industry experts suggest Aeroflot is particularly interested in wide-body jets for Far Eastern routes, meaning foreign-operated aircraft with international-standard service could soon appear at MAPK.

Additionally, Aeroflot plans to extend its flat-rate fare program to four more Far Eastern cities—Anadyr, Blagoveshchensk, Ulan-Ude, and Yakutsk—provided that commercial pricing remains viable, with fares capped at 20–30% above subsidized rates.

Domestic Aircraft Developments

April also saw progress in Russia’s homegrown aviation projects:

• IL-114-300: A third prototype has joined the certification program, aiming to replace older An-24 and Yak-40 planes on regional routes. Designed for rough runways and extreme climates, it carries 68 passengers at 500 km/h (compared to the An-24’s 50 passengers at 460 km/h). 51 units are planned by 2030.

• SJ-100: The Russian-made PD-8 engine-powered variant is undergoing tests, with one prototype recently reaching a record altitude of 11,300 meters. The 3-hour, 13-minute flight at 841 km/h confirmed the engine’s reliability across all flight conditions.

Photos