Datong Beijiazao Airport

Replacement by a new, modern airport. Datong Beijiazao Airport was closed because it was functionally obsolete and could not meet the demands of modern air travel. Key reasons include:
1. **Inadequate Infrastructure:** The runway was approximately 2,400 meters long, which was too short to safely and efficiently handle larger, more common passenger jets like the Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320.
2. **Outdated Facilities:** The terminal building, air traffic control, and navigation systems were outdated and had limited capacity.
3. **Urban Encroachment:** The airport was located too close to the expanding city center, posing safety risks and limiting further urban development.
4. **Economic Development:** The construction of the new Datong Yungang Airport was a strategic decision to boost tourism (to sites like the Yungang Grottoes) and the local economy by providing a facility capable of handling significantly more traffic and larger aircraft.

The airport site has been decommissioned and repurposed. The original runway, taxiways, and apron are still physically intact and clearly visible from satellite imagery. However, the site is no longer used for aviation. The long runway has been converted into a large-scale vehicle testing ground and a driver training facility, with various road markings, obstacle courses, and test tracks painted directly onto the tarmac. The surrounding land is being redeveloped for industrial and commercial use as part of Datong's urban expansion, with new buildings constructed on and around the former airport grounds.

Datong Beijiazao Airport was originally built as a military airbase. It was opened for dual-use civilian operations in 1988, serving as the primary airport for the city of Datong for 17 years. During its operational period, it was a vital transportation hub for this key industrial and historical city in Shanxi province. It primarily handled domestic flights operated by regional carriers such as China General Aviation and China United Airlines. The aircraft it served were typically smaller turboprops (like the Xian Y-7) and earlier, smaller jet models. Its existence was crucial for connecting Datong to the rest of China before the era of widespread high-speed rail and modern aviation infrastructure.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Datong Beijiazao Airport for any form of commercial or general aviation. Its role has been completely superseded by the far superior Datong Yungang Airport. The old airport's infrastructure is obsolete, and the land is being actively redeveloped for non-aviation purposes. Reopening the facility would be economically unviable and strategically redundant.