Lago Argentino Airport

The airport was closed because it was replaced by a modern and much larger facility. The primary reasons for its replacement were:
1. **Insufficient Capacity:** The old airport had a relatively short, likely unpaved or gravel runway, which could only accommodate smaller, propeller-driven aircraft. It was inadequate for the larger jet aircraft (like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320) needed to support the rapidly growing tourism industry in El Calafate.
2. **Lack of Modern Infrastructure:** It lacked modern navigational aids, such as an Instrument Landing System (ILS), making operations challenging and often impossible during the frequent periods of bad weather common in Patagonia.
3. **Economic and Tourism Growth:** The Argentine government and local authorities recognized the need for a modern gateway to handle international tourists visiting Los Glaciares National Park. The old airport was a major bottleneck for development.

The airport site has been decommissioned and repurposed for urban use. The most prominent structure on the former airport grounds is the **El Calafate Bus Terminal (Terminal de Ómnibus de El Calafate)**, which was built directly on the location of the old airport's terminal and apron. The outline of the former runway is still visible on satellite imagery as a wide dirt or gravel track, but the land is being progressively integrated into the city's street grid and developed with new buildings. It is no longer used for any aviation activities.

For many years, Lago Argentino Airport was the essential air link to the then-remote town of El Calafate. It was critically important for the initial development of tourism in the region, providing the first reliable access for visitors who did not want to undertake the long overland journey. The airport primarily handled regional flights, often operated by LADE (Líneas Aéreas del Estado), a state-owned airline that serves remote communities in Argentina. It also supported general aviation, medical flights, and government operations. Its existence was fundamental in putting El Calafate and the Perito Moreno Glacier on the tourist map before it was superseded by a facility built for the jet age.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Lago Argentino Airport. The site has been permanently repurposed, and its central location within the expanding city makes its reuse as an airport unfeasible due to safety, noise, and real estate value. The region's aviation needs are fully and effectively met by the modern Comandante Armando Tola International Airport, which is located a safe distance outside the city and is equipped to handle large aircraft and international flights.