Lupin Airport

Economic. The airport was a private aerodrome built and operated exclusively to service the fly-in/fly-out Lupin Mine. When the mine ceased production in 2005 due to the high cost of operations and logistical challenges, the airport no longer had a purpose and was closed along with the rest of the mine's infrastructure.

The airport is permanently closed and decommissioned. The site is part of the larger Lupin Mine property, which has been undergoing extensive, long-term environmental reclamation and remediation managed by Kinross Gold Corporation. While the physical runway may still be visible, it is unmaintained, and all associated infrastructure, such as the terminal building, hangars, and navigational aids, have been demolished and removed as part of the cleanup process. The site is not used for any aviation activities and is considered abandoned.

Lupin Airport was a critical piece of infrastructure for the Lupin Gold Mine, one of Canada's most significant gold producers from its opening in 1982 until 2005. Located in the extremely remote Arctic region of Nunavut on the shore of Contwoyto Lake, the airport was the sole lifeline for the mine. It featured a substantial 5,200-foot gravel runway that was crucial for transporting personnel, equipment, fuel, and supplies. The airport regularly handled large aircraft, including Boeing 727 and 737 jets (often in 'combi' passenger/cargo configuration) operated by northern airlines like First Air and NWT Air. These flights were essential for rotating thousands of workers and flying out the valuable gold doré bars produced at the mine, enabling the extraction of over 3 million ounces of gold from an otherwise inaccessible location.

Very low to none. The reopening of Lupin Airport is entirely contingent on the potential future reopening of the Lupin Mine itself. While the mineral rights to the property have changed hands since its closure, with some companies exploring the feasibility of restarting operations, there are no active, funded plans to do so. The immense cost and logistical challenges of operating in the high Arctic make any such venture a major undertaking. Without a new, large-scale industrial project at the site, there is no prospect for the airport to be reopened.