Krasnodar International Airport could begin operating around the clock in early 2026, according to Managing Director Dmitry Kirichenko.

“For now, by decision of Rosaviatsia, flights will initially be handled from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Moscow time. However, in just a few months we will be expanding our flight network, and next year, possibly at the beginning, we may transition to 24-hour operations,” Kirichenko told reporters on Wednesday.

The announcement comes as Krasnodar Airport celebrated its first passenger flight after a pause of more than three years. Aeroflot resumed service from Moscow with three daily flights now scheduled. The carrier also plans to add routes from St. Petersburg, while future services will include flights from Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, and Kazan. Other Russian airlines, including S7 Airlines and Ural Airlines, have already submitted their schedules.

Interest is also emerging from international carriers, with Turkish airline Southwind Airlines studying potential flights to Krasnodar.

Kirichenko noted that passenger traffic at the airport could reach at least 500,000 people by the end of this year, underscoring the region’s strong demand for air travel and the importance of restoring connectivity.