Kunming Wujiaba International Airport

The airport was closed due to being replaced by the new, much larger Kunming Changshui International Airport (IATA: KMG, ICAO: ZPPP). The primary reasons for the replacement were:
1. **Capacity Constraints:** Wujiaba had only one runway and was operating far beyond its designed capacity, leading to frequent delays. The rapid economic growth of Kunming and Yunnan province required a larger facility to handle the increasing passenger and cargo traffic.
2. **Urban Encroachment:** Located just 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) from Kunming's city center, the airport was completely surrounded by urban development. This made any significant expansion of the runway or terminal facilities physically impossible.
3. **Safety and Noise Concerns:** Its proximity to the city center raised safety and noise pollution concerns for the surrounding residential and commercial areas.

The former airport site has been completely demolished and is undergoing a massive urban redevelopment project. The land has been repurposed to become the new Wujiaba Urban Sub-center, a modern extension of Kunming's central business district. The plan includes high-rise commercial and residential buildings, financial centers, public parks, and new transportation infrastructure, including subway lines. As a tribute to its aviation history, a significant portion of the former runway's footprint has been preserved and integrated into a large central park and green space that runs through the heart of the new district.

Kunming Wujiaba International Airport had a rich and significant history spanning 90 years.

- **Early History:** Originally built in 1922, it was one of the earliest airports in China. It underwent significant expansion in 1937 after the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

- **World War II Hub:** Wujiaba gained international fame during World War II as a crucial Allied airbase. It was the headquarters for the legendary 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG), better known as the "Flying Tigers," led by Claire Lee Chennault. It was also a primary terminus for the perilous airlift operation over the Himalayas known as "The Hump," which supplied Nationalist China after the Burma Road was cut off by Japanese forces. This made it a vital strategic asset in the China-Burma-India Theater.

- **Post-War Operations:** After the war, it became the primary civilian airport for Kunming and Yunnan Province. It served as the main hub for the now-defunct China Yunnan Airlines, which was later merged into China Eastern Airlines. As the gateway to the popular tourist destinations of Yunnan, it handled a vast number of domestic flights and a growing number of international routes across Southeast and East Asia.

- **Airport Codes:** Prior to its closure, its IATA code was KMG and its ICAO code was ZPPP. These codes were transferred to its successor, Kunming Changshui International Airport. The ICAO code CN-0032 provided in the query is a non-standard identifier, possibly from a specific database, not its official designation.

There are zero prospects for the airport to reopen. The site has been comprehensively redeveloped for high-value urban use, and its function has been permanently replaced by the far more capable Kunming Changshui International Airport, which is designed to serve as a major national and international aviation hub for the foreseeable future.