Ust-Kut airport reopened on September 1, 2026, after a three-month closure for the first stage of capital runway repairs. The airport in eastern Russia had been closed from June 1 through August 31 while contractors restored the concrete base and laid new asphalt-concrete surfacing.

UTair (UT, Khanty-Mansiysk) resumed Irkutsk International-Ust-Kut flights on September 1 using ATR72-500 turboprops. Current schedules include a daily charter rotation and scheduled services, with an additional scheduled rotation on selected days. Further works until late 2028 will cover the apron, taxiway, and airfield lighting system without another airport closure.