Herbert Mata Pires Airport

Urban encroachment and real estate development. The airport was situated in an area that became enveloped by the city's growth. Its location within the urban perimeter posed safety risks, prevented necessary expansion, and occupied valuable land. The state government expropriated the area for a planned urban development project.

The airport has been completely demolished and the site has been fully redeveloped. The land is now a planned residential and commercial neighborhood named 'Loteamento Vitória'. The former runway has been converted into the main avenue of this new district, which was named 'Avenida Herbert Mata Pires' to preserve the memory of the former airport.

Named after Herbert Mata Pires, a local state deputy, the airport was a vital general aviation hub for Itaberaba and the surrounding Chapada Diamantina region. It primarily served private aircraft, air taxis, agricultural aviation, and crucial aeromedical transport (air ambulances). While it did not host major commercial airlines, it was instrumental in connecting the city with state capitals and other centers for business, political travel, and emergency services, particularly before the region's road network was fully modernized. The ICAO code 'BR-1946' is an unofficial identifier used in non-governmental databases; its official ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil) registration was likely different or may have lapsed prior to closure.

Reopening the original airport is impossible as the site no longer exists. However, there are concrete plans for a replacement facility. In January 2024, the Bahia State Infrastructure Secretariat (SEINFRA) launched a public tender for the construction of a new airfield in Itaberaba. This new airport will be located at a different site, Fazenda Santa Helena, approximately 10 kilometers from the city center, and is designed to meet the current and future aviation demands of the region.