In 1934, scheduled passenger flights from Krasnodar to Anapa were launched. In 1960, Anapa airport started accommodating
An-2, Morava aircraft. Flights were performed to Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, and Gelendzhik. The airport had fewer than 10 staff, with only one radio station providing technical flight support. In 1965, the building at Anapa airport was constructed (now it hosts a first-aid station). An aerodrome started accommodating An-24 aircraft. The airport has expanded its destination map and launched flight service to
Moscow,
Kerch,
Donetsk,
Kharkiv,
Sukhumi. Due to the increased passenger traffic and aircraft landings, the airport was relocated to Anapa's suburb, near Vityazevo village, where it still operates. The new location allowed it to accommodate larger aircraft such as the An-10. In 1969, construction of a new military airfield with a 2,500-m runway was launched near Vityazevo. It was kept secret for the facility's military purposes. In 1970, Vityazevo Airport honored the 100,000th passenger. In April 1974, an An-24 performed the first regular passenger flight to Vityazevo. In May 1974, a group of NATO military attachés went to Anapa on board the first flight Moscow – Anapa – Moscow. They oversaw the construction of the military runway, one of the longest at the time in the Soviet Union. There were about 12 aerodromes in total, each with similar runways, across the country. In 1976, Vityazevo Airport was officially opened. The new terminal could handle up to 70 daily flights originating from around 50 domestic airports. In September 1976, a
twin plane crash happened above Anapa when an
An-24 and a
Yak-40 crashed because of the aircraft dispatcher's fatal error. The tragedy claimed 70 lives. In 1977, Tu-154s began flying to Vityazevo Airport, becoming the principal aircraft type in the fleets of Russian air carriers. A Тu-154 (USSR-85171) snapshot captured against the Anapa airport passenger terminal was reproduced on a Soviet postcard. In 1982, an
An-26 owned by the
Black Sea Fleet Naval Air Force crashed near Anapa killing nine. In 1988, Anapa airport was separated from the 1st Krasnodar United Air Group and became an independent entity: a separate class-III airport under the North Caucasian Civil Aviation Authority. Upon the installation of the SP-80M landing system, the aerodrome was issued an ICAO Category I certificate. In 1991, the airport performed 6,828 takeoffs and landings, serving 439,600 passengers. During the summer season, the airport handled up to 52 flights operating at full capacity.
Post-Soviet history In 1993, Vityazevo Airport was designated an international airport.
Austrian Airlines became the first international airline to open a branch office in Anapa. In 2001, Siberia's (
S7 Airlines) launched operations at Vityazevo International Airport. In 2005, SABRE, SITA, and Kupol passenger handling systems that enable passenger check-in to any destination in the world and the use of e-tickets were put into operation. In 2005, OJSC Anapa Airport won the "Russian National Olympus" award for its outstanding contribution to Russia's historical development in the "Outstanding small and medium businesses" category. In 2006, the first scheduled flight of a Boeing (VP-BTD) of the S7 air carrier was performed. In 2008, the first scheduled flight of an Airbus (VP-BHI) operated by the S7 air carrier was conducted. Later that year, the airport won the "Kuban Economic Leader 2007 – Territorial Contest Winner" award presented by the Krasnodar Territory Governor, A.N. Tkachev, in the "Aviation Transport" industry category. And in the same year, the airport won the "Kuban Transport Olympus" award, bestowed on businesses of the Kuban Transport Complex, "For rapid development momentum and flight safety". In 2010, in accordance with the Federal Targeted Programs "Development of the Transportation System of Russia (2010-2015)" and "Modernization of the Transportation System of Russia (2002-2010)", the "Reconstruction of Anapa (Vityazevo) airport aerodrome" program was approved. The reconstruction was carried out in five stages from 2010 to 2012. In 2011, S7 Boeing 737-400 (VP-BAN) flying from Domodedovo became the first scheduled flight after runway reconstruction. It carried 125 passengers. In December 2011, Anapa International Airport first accommodated the
Sukhoi Superjet 100 operated by Aeroflot. In 2012, a new ramp at the airport was put into operation. In January 2014, Anapa International Airport was fully privatized after the Russian Auction House had sold out 25.5% of the government's stake to
Sistema LLC for 153.6 million rubles ($4.4 million). In April 2014, a specialty emergency services facility was opened at the airport. In June 2014, Anapa airport launched direct air service with
Simferopol, the administrative center of the disputed
Crimean peninsula Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation . In June 2017, at Anapa Airport, the new terminal began its work. The new terminal was built so that in case of the weather, construction, or other reasons, Anapa will officially serve
Sochi International Airport during FIFA-2018. Since the start of the
Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, all civilian flights to and from the airport have been indefinitely suspended. ==Airlines and destinations==