Old Cacoal Airport

The airport was closed because it was replaced by a new, larger, and more modern facility, the Cacoal–Capital do Café Airport (SSKW). The old airport was situated within the expanding urban area of Cacoal, which severely limited its potential for expansion, restricted the size of aircraft it could safely handle, and posed increasing safety risks to the surrounding neighborhoods. The new airport was constructed in a more suitable location outside the city center to accommodate larger jet aircraft (like the Boeing 737) and handle projected increases in passenger and cargo traffic, thereby supporting the region's economic growth.

The site of the former airport has been completely redeveloped and integrated into the city's urban fabric. The land where the runway and airport facilities once stood has been repurposed for urban use. It now contains new streets, such as Avenida Beira Rio, residential and commercial buildings, and a large public recreation and event area known as 'Espaço Beira Rio'. The original airport infrastructure has been entirely removed.

For decades, the Old Cacoal Airport was the primary air gateway to Cacoal and the surrounding coffee-producing region of Rondônia. It was a vital piece of infrastructure for regional connectivity, handling general aviation, air taxi services, and scheduled commercial flights operated by regional airlines with smaller turboprop aircraft. The airport played a crucial role in the economic and social development of the city, providing essential transport for business, medical emergencies, mail, and connecting the remote municipality to state and national centers like Porto Velho and Cuiabá.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the Old Cacoal Airport. The land has been permanently and fully repurposed for urban development, making a return to aviation use physically impossible. The city of Cacoal is now effectively served by the modern Cacoal–Capital do Café Airport (OAC/SSKW), which is designed to meet the current and future aviation demands of the region.