Airports / Kyrgyzstan / IKU
Issyk-Kul International Airport.
Tamchy, Kyrgyzstan · 5,425 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.5/5
Google rating
88 ratings
0
Operators based
5,425
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#1 / 7
Kyrgyzstan airports by Google rating
4.5★ across 88 Google ratings , ranked against 7 rated Kyrgyzstan fields.
49 nm
To the nearest alternate
Almaty International Airport (ALA).
Overview
Issyk-Kul International Airport (UCFL / IKU) is a large commercial airport serving Tamchy, Kyrgyzstan. The field lies at an elevation of 5,425 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
IKU has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include Almaty International Airport (ALA, 49 nm), Karakol International Airport (IKG, 76 nm), and Kant Air Base (UAFW, 83 nm). IKU offers a single 12,467-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of IKU vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as UAFL and Issyk-Kul Airport. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from IKU, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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Field capability
ICAO
UCFL
IATA
IKU
FAA / Local
IKU
Elevation
5,425 ft
Coordinates
42.5856° N · 76.7012° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Kyrgyzstan fields
state range 2,058–5,590 ft
At 5,425 ft, IKU sits higher than 71% of the 7 Kyrgyzstan fields on the register, a high-elevation field where density altitude can trim aircraft performance on warm days.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 12,467 ft
- 07/2512,467 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 12,467 ft
IKU's 12,467 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation, and at 5,425 ft this field's density altitude can extend the runway a jet actually needs on warm days. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 49nmALAAlmaty International AirportAlmaty
- 76nmIKGKarakol International AirportKarakol
- 83nmUAFWKant Air BaseKant
- 102nmBSZManas International AirportBishkek
- 170nmTDKTaldykorgan AirportTaldykorgan
- 179nmAKUAksu Hongqipo AirportAksu (Onsu)
Location
Open the full mapUCFL · Issyk-Kul International Airport · Tamchy, Kyrgyzstan
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from IKU on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | 4,176 nm | 10h 7m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 5,308 nm | 12h 45m |
| Boston (BED) | 5,416 nm | 13h 0m |
| New York (TEB) | 5,553 nm | 13h 19m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 5,617 nm | 13h 28m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 5,662 nm | 13h 34m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 5,714 nm | 13h 41m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 5,779 nm | 13h 50m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use IKU?
- Issyk-Kul International Airport's longest paved runway is 12,467 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at IKU?
- Issyk-Kul International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 12,467 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to IKU?
- The closest alternate is Almaty International Airport (ALA), about 49 nm away, followed by Karakol International Airport (IKG) at 76 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from IKU to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Anchorage about 10h 7m (4,176 nm), Seattle about 12h 45m (5,308 nm), Boston about 13h 0m (5,416 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.