La Chimba Airport

The primary reason for closure was a combination of urban encroachment and the need for a more modern and capable facility. As the city of Antofagasta grew rapidly, residential and commercial areas began to surround La Chimba, making its operations increasingly hazardous and noisy. Furthermore, the airport's infrastructure, including its runway length and terminal facilities, was insufficient to handle the larger jet aircraft (such as the Boeing 707 and 727) that were becoming the standard for domestic and international routes. The newly developed Cerro Moreno Airport was located further from the city center and was built to modern specifications, providing a long-term solution for the region's air transport needs.

The former airport site has been completely redeveloped and is now fully integrated into the urban fabric of Antofagasta. It constitutes a major residential, commercial, and educational zone in the northern part of the city ('Sector Norte'). The land is now occupied by numerous housing complexes, large retail centers (such as Lider and Jumbo hypermarkets), and the campus for the INACAP technical university. The main thoroughfare of this district, Avenida Edmundo Pérez Zujovic, was constructed directly over the path of the former main runway, serving as a lasting geographical reminder of the airport's location.

From its inauguration in the 1940s until its closure, La Chimba was the principal airport for Antofagasta, a crucial hub for northern Chile's economy. It played a vital role in connecting this major port city and the surrounding copper mining industry to the rest of the country. The airport handled both passenger and essential cargo flights, supporting the logistics of the world's most important copper-producing region. National carriers like LAN Chile (now LATAM) operated regular services with a fleet that evolved from propeller aircraft like the Douglas DC-3 and DC-6 to early jetliners. For several decades, La Chimba was the gateway to Antofagasta and a key element of its economic development.

None. There is zero prospect of the airport reopening. The land has been irrevocably converted to high-density urban use, and no trace of aviation infrastructure remains. The city and region are well-served by the modern Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport (SCFA/ANF), which is located on the Cerro Moreno peninsula north of the city and has the capacity to handle all current and projected air traffic. Re-establishing an airport at the La Chimba site is physically impossible and strategically unnecessary.