20:14, 12 May 2009 | GMT +5
Heavy snowfall, spring thaw damage soil runways of 2 Chukotka airfields
ANADYR. May 12. KAZINFORM A heavy snowfall and spring thaw have damaged soil runways of two out of eight airfields in Chukotka. Flights are suspended to and from the Zaliv Kresta and Lavrentiy airfields. Temperatures are about one degree Centigrade, and the runways are sticky, Kazinform refers to ITAR-TASS.

Antonov An-24 and An-26, Yakovlev Yak-40 and helicopters are the only aircraft capable of taking off and landing on small airfields of Chukotka. They are capable of maneuvering on 60-meter-wide runways. Chukotavia is the operator of the airfields.
Flights will resume as soon as the runways dry out, deputy head of the district administration Valery Dvoretsky said.
Air transport is the only way to travel between Chukotka townships in summer. Vehicles pass through the taiga with much difficulty if ever, Kazinform cites ITAR-TASS. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.