Osorno Pampa Alegre Airport

The airport was closed because it was replaced by the new, larger, and more modern Aeródromo Cañal Bajo Carlos Hott Siebert (SCJO/ZOS). Pampa Alegre was located within the expanding urban area of Osorno, which made it impossible to extend the runway to accommodate larger jet aircraft that were becoming standard. Its location within the city also posed increasing safety risks. The new airport was built in a more suitable location outside the city center.

The former airport site has been completely redeveloped and is now fully integrated into the urban landscape of Osorno. The land is occupied by a mix of residential neighborhoods (such as Villa Pampa Alegre), commercial areas, educational institutions, and a large public park named Parque Pampa Alegre. There are no visible remnants of the original runway, terminal, or any other airport infrastructure. The street grid in the area, particularly the long, straight Avenida René Soriano, is believed to follow the alignment of the former runway.

Pampa Alegre was the first and primary airport for the city of Osorno and its surrounding province for several decades in the mid-20th century. It was a key stop on the southern routes of the national airline, LAN-Chile (now LATAM), connecting the important agricultural and livestock region with the capital, Santiago, and other parts of the country. The airport primarily handled piston-engine aircraft, most notably the Douglas DC-3, and later turboprops. It was instrumental in the economic development and connectivity of the region before modern road infrastructure was fully developed.

There are zero prospects for reopening the airport. The land has been densely developed for residential and commercial use for over 50 years. Reacquiring the land and clearing it for aviation use would be logistically impossible and economically prohibitive. Furthermore, the city of Osorno is adequately served by the modern Aeródromo Cañal Bajo, which meets all current domestic aviation needs.