1930
August 21, 1930 was the airport’s birthday: the first mail and passenger flight from Moscow to Tashkent was made by a six-seat K-5 aircraft designed by K.A. Kalinin.
1931
In 1931, construction began on an airfield near the Nizhyn rural council and the border of the collective farm Krasny Posad.
1932
In 1932, a temporary parking lot for three U-2 planes of Kuibyshev Aviation Group was fashioned in the north-western part of the airport under construction.
1933
By the beginning of navigation in 1933 a receiving and transmitting radio centre was installed in a private home on the outskirts.
1937
In 1937 the passenger terminal of the airport under construction, was commissioned.
1938
In 1938 the radio centre was relocated to a dedicated building near the airfield.
1946
In 1946, the Main Directorate of Civil Aviation ordered establishment of the 229th Chkalov Squadron with a fleet of 20 aircraft.
1951
By 1951, the construction of Nizhyn airport had practically been completed.
1956
In 1956, the Head of the Main Directorate of Civil Aviation ordered establishment of the 195th squadron to be united with Chkalov airport.
1957
In 1957 the city recovered its old name Orenburg.
1974
In 1974 a new runway with a hard artificial surface was put into operation.
1975
In 1975 regular passenger flights by An-24 and Tu-134 planes were launched from the new airport, and since 1976 flights have been performed by Tu-154.
On March 1, 1975 the 356th Special Purpose and Local Airlines Flight Group was formed and continued to be based at Nezhinka Airport.
1976
In December 1976, a passenger terminal that can handle 400 passengers per hour was commissioned.
1980
In 1980, a 4-storey building of the aviation technical base was put into operation.
1987
In 1987, the 356th Special Force Flight Group based at Nezhinka airport was relocated to Central Airport.
1991
On May 15, 1991 the crew of the Orenburg United Flight Squad made its first international flight by Tu-134A on the Orenburg-Kiev-Ostrava route.
1992
On October 8, 1992 the Orenburg airport was granted the international status.
1993
In 1993 the Orenburg United Squad received the status of a state aviation enterprise.
1994
In 1994, the Orenburg State Aviation Enterprise became an ICAO member and joined IATA.
2002
On May 20, 2002, the SUE Orenburg Airlines was renamed as FSUE Orenburg Airlines. The Airline’s MTB independently performs all kind of maintenance for the types of aircraft operated.
2005
On May 30, 2005 the airport gets clearance for receiving Boeing 737-300, 400, 500 aircraft.
2008
On April 25, 2008, a BC Boeing 737-800 was approved for use.
2009
In 2009, the renovation of the passenger terminal commenced and had been completed by 2010. On July 20, 2009, the BC Boeing 757-200 was permitted for use.
2010
On June 3, 2010, TU-204(214) was cleared for being received and serviced.
On August 11, 2010 the airport’s combined assets were spun off and incorporated as FSUE Orenburg International Airport.
On August 11, 2010 the airport’s combined assets were spun off and incorporated as FSUE Orenburg International Airport.
2011
In 2011, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first human space flight, the airport was given the name of Yuri A. Gagarin, the planet’s first astronaut. FSUE Orenburg International Airport became a member of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and then a member of Orenburg Region’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
2012
On October 4, 2012, FSUE Orenburg International Airport was assigned to the Orenburg Region and renamed as SUE Orenburg International Airport of the Orenburg Region.
2013
On April 1, 2013 the Orenburg Region State Unitary Enterprise (SUE) Orenburg Airport, under the commercial designation of Orenburzhie Airlines, launched regional air services. In June 2013, the company was admitted to the Russian AEFT.
2014
On September 29, 2014, a Certificate was obtained, attesting to the airport’s authorization as Maintenance Service Centre for L-410 UVP-E20 aircraft across the board of all types of operational and routine maintenance, including all forms of scheduled maintenance.
2017
From July 6 to 14, 2017 the Orenburg Airport was undergoing runway repairs.
July 4, 2017 – Orsk airport is attached to Orenburg airport.
August 15, 2017 – Paid car park is put into operation.
November 02-03, 2017 – Orenburg Airport took part in the Orenburzhie – Heart of Eurasia International Forum. The airline is recognized as a winner in the industrial goods and services group of the “Airport operations/commercial and passenger service” category and awarded the laureate’s title.
July 4, 2017 – Orsk airport is attached to Orenburg airport.
August 15, 2017 – Paid car park is put into operation.
November 02-03, 2017 – Orenburg Airport took part in the Orenburzhie – Heart of Eurasia International Forum. The airline is recognized as a winner in the industrial goods and services group of the “Airport operations/commercial and passenger service” category and awarded the laureate’s title.
2020
On 26.11.2020, the joint-stock company Orenburg International Airport was founded via transformation. The founder was the Orenburg region represented by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Property Relations. The Orsk airport branch was retained.
In December 2020 renovation of the former international sector building sitting in the station square was completed and the Arrivals Lounge was put into operation.
In December 2020 renovation of the former international sector building sitting in the station square was completed and the Arrivals Lounge was put into operation.
2021
2021. The airline company changes hands. It is taken over by ABC (Airports of the Big Country), a joint venture between Region Airports Management Company and Novaport Holding LLC, two of Russia’s leading airport holding companies.