Perm Airport (Bolshoye Savino): From a Military Outpost to the Ural's Air Gateway
When travelers think of the Urals, images of rugged nature, industrial giants, and world-class ballet often come to mind. But there is another, equally important landmark of the region — Perm Airport (Bolshoye Savino). This is not just a terminal building with a control tower and a runway. It is a place where national history intertwines with modern technology, and the spirit of legendary MiG-31 fighters still lingers in the air.
Let's take a closer look behind the scenes of this aviation hub to understand what makes the main airport of the Perm region tick today — and the remarkable journey it has taken to get here.
And most importantly, now you’ll be able to fly there, because we’re presenting you with a scenario for this airport with a new terminal!
The Legacy of the "Falcons": How a Military Airfield Went Civil
The history of Bolshoye Savino began long before the first passenger flight was announced here. Since 1952, it had served as a military airfield — home to the 764th Fighter Aviation Regiment, famously nicknamed "Sokol" (Falcon).
It was from this very runway that, in 1960, MiG-19 fighters took off to intercept the famous American U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers. That operation became one of the most dramatic episodes of the Cold War and forever etched this airfield into global aviation history — though at a tragic cost.
The civilian era dawned in 1965. The old airport at Bakhaревka was choking on its limited capacity, and Soviet authorities made a bold decision: expand the military aerodrome to serve passenger traffic. On February 15 of that year, Bolshoye Savino was officially inaugurated as an airport of national importance. The first flight — an Ilyushin Il-18 on the Sverdlovsk–Perm–Moscow route and back — marked the beginning of its peaceful, civilian life.
From a Single Runway to Transcontinental Routes
For many years, the airport remained a modest yet vital link in the country's transport network. The real breakthrough came in 2002–2003, when the runway was extended from 2.5 to 3.2 kilometers. That was the game-changer: from then on, the airport could accept all types of aircraft without restrictions.
Today, Bolshoye Savino boasts a state-of-the-art technical infrastructure. Its Class B concrete runway, 23 cm thick, can easily handle even a heavy An-124. The airport is equipped with modern radio navigation aids, VOR/DME and ILS systems. And aviation kerosene is pumped directly here via pipeline from the Lukoil refinery, ensuring seamless refueling for any airliner — from narrow-body jets to long-haul wide-bodies.
The New Terminal and the "Skeletons in the Closet"
The most significant architectural milestone in recent years was the opening of the new terminal on November 30, 2017. The spacious glass-and-steel building, covering nearly 30,000 square meters, is the true heart of the airport. It can handle up to 2 million passengers annually, with a peak-hour capacity of nearly 1,000 travelers.
Inside, there are 20 check-in counters, 5 jet bridges, and 3 boarding galleries. It looks like an airport dream come true — but there is a catch. Due to delays in apron reconstruction, the jet bridges remained largely idle for a long time; aircraft simply could not taxi directly to the gates. The good news is that the project is finally set to be completed in the second half of 2026. Once that happens, the airport will be able to operate at its full intended capacity.
Record-Breaking Numbers: How Passenger Traffic Has Evolved
The best indicator of the airport's growth is its passenger statistics. In the early 2000s — back in 2001 — traffic was a modest 214,000 people per year. Since then, the airport has weathered crises, flight bans to Turkey and Egypt, the pandemic, and general economic turbulence.
But the true peak came in 2023. Bolshoye Savino set an all-time record, serving 1,992,852 passengers. Interestingly, nearly 90% of those travelers chose domestic routes. The top destinations were not only Moscow and St. Petersburg but also sunny Makhachkala, Vladikavkaz, as well as Murmansk and Kaliningrad.
International routes are also on the rise: passengers are increasingly flying to Yerevan, Sharm El-Sheikh, and Phuket. What's more, Bolshoye Savino is gradually becoming a transit hub — over 8,000 passengers chose it as a connecting point in 2023.
An Airport with Two Faces
One of the most unique features of Bolshoye Savino is that it remains a joint-use aerodrome even today. The legendary "Sokol" aviation group of the Russian Ministry of Defence is still based here, operating MiG-31 interceptor fighters.
Civilian airliners peacefully share the aprons with combat aircraft. This is not just a coexistence but a symbol of continuity — a quality that makes this airport truly special on Russia's aviation map.
Today, Perm International Airport (Bolshoye Savino) is a dynamically growing transport hub. Despite ongoing construction works and the lingering jet-bridge saga, it looks confidently toward the future. Judging by the record figures of 2023, residents and guests of the Urals appreciate it for its convenience and expanding route network.
And once the apron reconstruction is finally completed, the airport will shed the last remnants of its 1960s legacy — emerging as a fully modern hub worthy of a million-strong city.
Kurumoch Airport in Samara has received a major upgrade
We are pleased to announce the release of an updated version of Norilsk (Alykel) airport for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Now users can make virtual flights to one of the most complex and unique airports in Russia — to the far north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, where the harsh Arctic nature meets with a powerful industrial infrastructure.
