In 1954, an 8,200 ft (2,500 m) hard surface runway capable of supporting a fighter regiment and jet bomber deployments was constructed.

[1] This attracted the interest of the US intelligence community as Provideniya was the closest Soviet military airfield to the United States.

However after the Cold War, the airfield had deteriorated and was not adequate for Russia's modern military operations.

There are anecdotal reports that it has received Tupolev Tu-95MR deployment flights as part of military exercises.

Bering Air operates chartered tourist flights several times a year using small aircraft such as Beechcraft 1900 and CASA C-212 Aviocar.