(Old) Antoine De Saint Exupery Airport

The airport was closed following its replacement by a new, more modern facility, the current Aeropuerto Antoine de Saint Exupéry (IATA: OES, ICAO: SAVO). The original airfield was located very close to the expanding urban center of San Antonio Oeste, which limited its potential for runway expansion and created noise and safety concerns for the growing population. All aviation operations were transferred to the new airport upon its inauguration.

The site is no longer used for aviation. Known locally as the 'Pista Vieja' (Old Runway), the area has been absorbed by the city. While the faint outlines of the former runways are still visible from the air, the land is now a public space and a historical landmark. The most significant part of its preservation is that the original airport terminal building and hangar have been repurposed to house the 'Museo Histórico Municipal de San Antonio Oeste'. The museum is dedicated to the town's history, with a major exhibit focusing on the legacy of the Aeroposta pioneers and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's connection to the region.

This airport holds immense historical significance as one of the original airfields on the pioneering Patagonian airmail route established by the French company Aéropostale, and continued by its successor, Aeroposta Argentina S.A., in the late 1920s. Its most famous pilot was Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the celebrated author of 'The Little Prince' and 'Wind, Sand and Stars'. Saint-Exupéry was the director of Aeroposta Argentina and frequently flew the route, using San Antonio Oeste as a crucial stopover ('escala'). His experiences flying over the desolate and beautiful landscapes of Patagonia, dealing with its treacherous winds, and interacting with the people at these remote outposts heavily influenced his writing. The airport was a vital link connecting the isolated communities of Patagonia with the rest of Argentina, initially handling mail and later passenger services, long before reliable road infrastructure existed.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening this historic airfield for aviation. The city of San Antonio Oeste is adequately served by its modern airport (SAVO), which is located safely away from the town center and is equipped to handle contemporary aircraft. The value of the old airport site is now entirely historical, cultural, and touristic, and its preservation as a museum and public space is its primary function.