At a meeting with members of the government commission on socio-economic development of the North Caucasus Federal District, Alexander Tkachov,  the chairman of the board of directors of JSC Firm Agrocomplex Tkachov, said that the growth of the tourist flow to the Arkhyz resort requires the construction of an airport in Cherkessk. "The creation of an airport in Cherkessk will also attract foreign tourists," he said.

"In order to attract foreign tourists to the Arkhyz resort, an international airport is needed, and the head of Karachay-Cherkessia supports us in this. Karachay-Cherkessia is the only [federal] republic in the Caucasus where the tourist flow exceeds the population by more than four times. Today, the tourist flow to Arkhyz already amounts to 2 million people and, according to estimates, will grow to 4 million people by 2030," Tkachov said.

Notably, Karachay-Cherkessia is the only region of the North Caucasian Federal District that does not have its own airport. Now the travel time to Arkhyz from the nearest Mineralnye Vody airport takes four hours.