Manas International Airport, International airport in Chuy Region, Kyrgyzstan
Manas International Airport serves as the main aviation gateway for Kyrgyzstan in Chuy Region, handling passenger and cargo traffic. The facility operates with a single runway at an elevation of 637 meters (2,090 feet) above sea level.
The airport opened in October 1974 with Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin arriving on its first landing. Aeroflot began regular flights to Moscow the following year.
The facility takes its name from Manas, a hero celebrated in Kyrgyz oral tradition, following a proposal by writer Chinghiz Aitmatov when the project was under discussion. This choice links the modern hub to centuries of storytelling that still shape national identity.
The terminal sits 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) northwest of Bishkek and operates around the clock. ILS equipment meets ICAO Category II standards for handling reduced visibility conditions.
Revenue from landing fees during the early 2000s funded major upgrades to runways and terminals. This period brought substantial improvements that shaped the current facility layout.
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