Novokuznetsk Tourist Trap Tips by alesseus

Last time i went to Novokuznetsk, i had bought a low-cost special ticket from Belarusian Airlines valid also for S7 flight from Minsk to Novokuznetsk.
I took a Belavia from Minsk after arriving there with Alitalia (in code sharing with Belavia) from Milan, Italy. The total price for my last flight on the way Milan-Malpensa-Minsk-Moscow-DME-Novokuznetsk-Moscow-DME-Minsk-Milan-Malpensa was 600 Euros.
My experience with regular flights of Alitalia and Belavia was good. I arrived i in time to Domodedovo, but as I took a look on the chek-in montor many flights of S7 Airlines were cancelled due to "climatic conditions" until next update.

Actually also Airbus 320 is certifed to fly to Novokuznetsk Spichenkovo Airport after last runway reconstruction with new PAPI system. So flight by S7 Airlines or Ural Airlines from Moscow Domodedovo Airport is more confortable and secure.

Anyway in difficult weather conditions you risk to be send to Kemerovo or Novosibirsk and to be transported to your destination by tourist class bus for the lack of regional airliners in Siberia area. The distance from Novosibirsk to Novokuznetsk is about 6 hours by bus with one stop in Zhuravli service area on the border of Novosibirsk Region with Kuzbass.

Unique Suggestions: Please inform you better before to go to Russia about climatic conditions in Siberia.
I suggest yo to exclude November and April from your travel program due to possible smog formation and high risk of delay of your flight in this period.
So please plan your trip during the summer or during the winter as instable climatic conditions make your travel susceptable to delays and bus adventures. Unfortunately Novokuznetsk Airport is not equiped with instrumental landing system so it cannot garantee 24 hours work during the risk periods of the the year.

Fun Alternatives: As alternative now is possible to reach Novokuznetsk not only by S7 Siberian Airlines but also by Ural Airlines from Moscow-Domodedovo Airport. So you can choose at least another carrier if S7 Airlines is not able to garantee you a flight.
And of course during the instable climate period i highly reccomend you using Russian Railways Service to reach Novokuznetsk from Novosibirsk. As it is too long to go to Siberia from Moscow, it takes actually about 70 hours from Moscow to reach Novokuznetsk you could fly to Novosibirsk Tolmachevo International Airport from all Moscow International Airports (Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo and Domodedovo) or to Kemerovo International Airport and after arriving in Siberia to reach Novokuznetsk by train, by bus or by taxi. Check wikipedia airports sites for more details in your language.