In 2009, when Novatek took control over the Yamal LNG in the Yuzhno-Tambeyskoye gas field, it identified the lack of transport infrastructures as one of the weaknesses of its development plan for the plant.

The terminal became operational during the summer of 2015, and got its international certification in October 2015[3][4] In March 2015, UTair Aviation started weekly flights from Moscow-Vnukovo to Sabetta, mainly to cater to employees of the large LNG plants of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

[3][5] Due to the climate, Sabetta's runway is paved with 15,000 prestressed concrete plates PAG-18 (6x2m, 5.2 tons each).

[6] The capacity of the runway enabled Volga-Dnepr Airlines and AirBridgeCargo to deliver parts of the Yamal LNG plant built in Germany and in China.

[3] The airport services Airbus A320, Boeing-737, Boeing 767, Sukhoi Superjet 100, Antonov An-124, Ilushin Il-76 and all lighter types of aircraft.