Yibin Caiba Airport

The airport was closed to all civil aviation traffic because it was replaced by the new, larger, and more modern Yibin Wuliangye Airport (IATA: YBP, ICAO: ZUYB). The Caiba airport's facilities had become inadequate for the region's growing air traffic demands. Its limitations included a relatively short runway (2,200 meters), aging infrastructure, and a location close to the city center that prevented any further expansion.

Following the cessation of all commercial operations, Yibin Caiba Airport has reverted to its original and sole function as a military airbase. The airfield and its facilities remain active and are operated by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

Originally built as a military airfield in the 1940s during the Second Sino-Japanese War, Yibin Caiba Airport held strategic importance. In 1992, it was expanded and opened for public flights, operating as a dual-use military and civil airport. For 27 years, it was the primary air gateway for the city of Yibin and the southern Sichuan region. As a 4C-class airport, it handled domestic routes connecting Yibin to major hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, significantly contributing to the local economy, business, and tourism.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Yibin Caiba Airport to civilian traffic. The city's entire commercial air service has been permanently consolidated at the new Yibin Wuliangye Airport, which was specifically designed and built to be a long-term replacement with capacity for future growth. The Caiba site is expected to remain an active military installation.