--- iata: CEK name: 'Chelyabinsk Airport (Balandino), named for I. V. Kurchatov' city: Chelyabinsk country: Russia lastUpdated: '2026-10-02' officialWebsite: 'https://cekport.ru/' sources: - 'https://cekport.ru/airport/info/' - 'https://cekport.ru/transport/parking/tariff/' - 'https://cekport.ru/transport/how/' - 'https://cekport.ru/transport/taxi/' - 'https://cekport.ru/services/comfort/business_russian/' - 'https://cekport.ru/services/comfort/business_international/' - 'https://cekport.ru/services/comfort/vip/' - 'https://cekport.ru/services/comfort/fast-track/' - 'https://cekport.ru/passengers/information/babysroom/' - 'https://cekport.ru/services/infrastructure/medicine/' - >- https://eanews.ru/chelyabinsk/20260115105158/passazhiropotok-chelyabinskogo-aeroporta-na-zarubezhnyh-reysah-vyros-na-tret - 'https://www.aex.ru/news/2026/1/15/291524/' quickFacts: - >- Civilian international airport at Balandino, about 18 km northeast of Chelyabinsk. The joint-use military field is the separate Chelyabinsk (Shagol) aerodrome. - >- Operator: AO Chelyabinskoye aviapredpriyatie. Official site cekport.ru. Open 24 hours, UTC+5. - >- 2025 operator total: 2,160,421 passengers, of which 1,912,999 domestic and more than 247,000 international (+31.5%). About 6,300 transit passengers were reported separately. - >- Domestic flights use Terminal A, opened 26 November 2019 (16,500 m², four jet bridges, about 900 passengers an hour). - >- International flights still use the existing international sector. A replacement international terminal was not under construction as of 11 September 2026. - >- Runway 09/27 is 3,200 × 60 m concrete. AIP elevation 235 m. ARP 55°18′21″N 061°30′13″E, centre of the runway. bentoTips: - label: Timing title: Use the three-hour lounge window detail: >- From 1 January 2026 the same fare is charged again for every further full or partial three hours. summary: >- The domestic business lounge will not take you earlier than three hours before departure, and the published business-lounge fare covers three hours. category: timing - label: Terminal title: Domestic is Terminal A; international is the older sector detail: >- The VIP entrance is door A1 on the left side of the domestic terminal, by the Kurchatov monument. summary: >- Internal flights use the 2019 terminal. International check-in is still in the existing international sector, not a new building. category: terminal - label: Food title: Pay for the business lounge if you want a meal included detail: >- The individual departing rate from 1 January 2026 is 4,100 RUB from age 12 and 2,050 RUB from age 2 to 12, VAT included. summary: >- Both business lounges include food and non-alcoholic drinks. A shower in the business hall is a separate 1,000 RUB. category: food - label: Status title: 'Read the live board, not a published punctuality rate' detail: >- In January 2026 the operator said 2025 international traffic was up 31.5%, and local reporting described repeated 2025 delays tied to airspace restrictions. Check cekport.ru before you leave. summary: >- The airport does not publish an on-time percentage or a standard security wait. category: status lounges: - name: Domestic business lounge zone: 'Domestic, airside' hours: No earlier than 3 hours before departure; the fare covers 3 hours access: - 'Business class, included in the ticket' - Airline elite status - Bank bonus programmes - Paid entry 4100 RUB bestFor: - Domestic departures - A meal before a short flight summary: >- Second floor of the domestic terminal after screening. From 1 January 2026 an individual departing guest aged 12 or older pays 4,100 RUB including VAT for up to three hours; ages 2–12 pay 2,050 RUB. A company booking is 4,700 RUB and 2,350 RUB. A shower is 1,000 RUB extra. verdict: depends terminal: Terminal A amenities: - Food and non-alcoholic drinks - Wi-Fi - Local phone calls - Press - Ride to the aircraft - Paid shower - name: International business lounge zone: 'International, airside' hours: The fare covers 3 hours access: - 'Business class, included in the ticket' - Airline elite status - Bank bonus programmes - Paid entry 4100 RUB bestFor: - International departures summary: >- Second floor of the international sector after screening. The 1 January 2026 individual and company fares match the domestic business lounge, including the repeat charge after three hours. The page does not include a ride to the aircraft. verdict: depends terminal: International sector amenities: - 'Tea, coffee, light food and drinks' - Wi-Fi - Phone and fax - Press - Paid shower - name: VIP lounge zone: Domestic and international access: - Paid entry 21200 RUB bestFor: - A separate arrival or departure - Families who want the meet-and-greet summary: >- Left side of the domestic terminal, by the Kurchatov monument. From 1 January 2026 a departing passenger aged 2 or older pays 21,200 RUB including VAT; an arriving or transit passenger pays 10,600 RUB; a meeter or greeter pays 5,400 RUB. Book for a specific flight. Infants under 2 are not on that tariff. verdict: depends terminal: Terminal A amenities: - Separate entrance A1 - Own parking - Check-in and baggage - Screening - Customs and passport control for international flights - Minibus to or from the aircraft - Shower room - Bar - Wi-Fi waterOptions: [] airportistScore: 5.5 slug: cek region: Europe --- > Markdown for [/airports/cek](/airports/cek). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/cek) - [Lounge directory](/airports/cek/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # Chelyabinsk Airport (Balandino), named for I. V. Kurchatov (CEK) Chelyabinsk, Russia · Europe Chelyabinsk has a usable 2019 domestic terminal and clearly priced lounges, with the tradeoff that international flights still use the older sector and the city link is a bus or taxi. ## Airportist Score **5.5 / 10** Weighted sum of the six published categories (no holistic fudge). - Ease of use (25%): 6.2 — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout. - Comfort & amenities (20%): 5.8 — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet. - Food & retail (15%): 4.6 — Food and retail quality and variety. - Ground access (15%): 5.4 — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city. - Reliability (15%): 5.0 — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience. - Lounges (10%): 5.2 — Worth-it density and access quality. ## At a glance - Passengers: 2.160 million (2025) - Terminals: Terminal A domestic (2019); older international sector - Typical security: 0 min - On-time: 0% - Disruption: normal ## Best for - Domestic departures through the 2019 terminal - A priced business lounge with food included - Drivers who want a printed parking cap ## Watch out for - International flights still use the older sector - No airport railway and no published bus fare - No published on-time rate; 2025 had repeated airspace delays - Business-lounge showers cost 1,000 RUB extra ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/cek/lounges.md) (free) - [Map](/airports/cek/map.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/cek/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/cek/amenities.md) (free) - [Traveler tips](/airports/cek/tips.md) (free) - [Water](/airports/cek/water.md) (free) - [Full guide](/airports/cek/guide.md) (free) - [Disruptions](/airports/cek/disruptions.md) (free) - [Reviews](/airports/cek/reviews.md) (free)