Former Chifeng Airport

The airport was closed and replaced by the new Chifeng Yulong Airport (IATA: CIF, ICAO: ZBCF). The primary reasons for the replacement were:
1. **Urban Encroachment:** The old airport was located within the city's Hongshan District. As Chifeng expanded, the airport became surrounded by urban development, which severely limited its potential for expansion.
2. **Inadequate Infrastructure:** Its runway was too short (approximately 1,800 meters) and its facilities were outdated, preventing it from handling larger, modern jet aircraft such as the Boeing 737-800 or Airbus A320 series. This constrained the growth of air traffic and the number of destinations that could be served.
3. **Safety and Noise Concerns:** Operating an airport in a densely populated urban area posed increasing safety risks and noise pollution issues for local residents.
4. **Economic Development:** A new, larger airport was required to meet the growing demands of the region's economy, tourism, and passenger traffic, which the old facility could no longer support.

The site of the former airport has been completely decommissioned and redeveloped. The land, located at a prime position within the city, has been integrated into the urban fabric of the Hongshan District. Satellite imagery of the coordinates (42.234587, 118.906746) shows that the former runway, taxiways, and terminal buildings have been entirely demolished. The area is now occupied by a mix of high-rise residential complexes, commercial streets, schools, and other public infrastructure. Street names in the vicinity, such as 'Jichang Road' (机场路, Airport Road), serve as a historical reminder of the site's previous function.

The Former Chifeng Airport was originally constructed as a military airfield. It began civil aviation operations in 1958, making it one of the earlier airports in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to serve the public. For most of its existence, it operated as a dual-use (civilian and military) airport. It was the primary air gateway to Chifeng for 50 years, playing a vital role in connecting this relatively remote region to major Chinese cities like Beijing and the regional capital, Hohhot. Operations were typically limited to smaller regional and turboprop aircraft, such as the Xian Y-7 and British Aerospace 146, due to its runway limitations. The airport was instrumental in the initial development of Chifeng's economy and tourism before being superseded by its modern replacement.

There are zero prospects for reopening this airport. The infrastructure has been physically dismantled, and the land has been permanently and completely redeveloped for urban use. All aviation services for the city were successfully transferred to the new Chifeng Yulong Airport, which is larger, more modern, and better equipped to handle current and future air traffic demands.