Bucaramanga, CO 🇨🇴 Closed Airport
CO-0073
-
3058 ft
CO-SAN
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 7.10433° N, -73.12403° E
Continent: SA
Type: Closed Airport
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Approximately mid-1974. The airport was officially closed to commercial traffic upon the inauguration of its replacement, Palonegro International Airport (SKBG/BGA), which opened in 1974.
The primary reason for closure was safety and operational limitations. Gómez Niño Airport was situated on a plateau in the middle of a rapidly expanding Bucaramanga. Its runway was short and surrounded by urban development and natural obstacles, making approaches and takeoffs, especially for newer and larger jet aircraft, extremely challenging and dangerous. The airport was deemed inadequate for the future aviation needs of the city, leading to the construction and opening of the much larger and safer Palonegro Airport in a more suitable location.
The site of the former Gómez Niño Airport is now a major, active military base. It serves as the headquarters for the Colombian National Army's Second Division and its Fifth Brigade. The facility is known as the 'Cantón Militar Batalla de Palonegro'. While the original runway is still largely intact and visible, it is now used for military purposes, including drills, parades, and as an airfield/helipad for military aircraft. The ICAO identifier CO-0073 now refers to this military installation, not a public airport.
Gómez Niño was the first and principal airport serving Bucaramanga and the Santander department for several decades. It was named in honor of Captain Luis F. Gómez Niño, a celebrated pioneer of Colombian military aviation. The airport was a vital link for the region, handling domestic passenger and cargo flights from major Colombian airlines of the era, such as Avianca and SAM (Sociedad Aeronáutica de Medellín). It primarily operated propeller aircraft like the Douglas DC-3 and DC-4. Its reputation as a difficult and dangerous airport is a significant part of its history, with several notable incidents and accidents contributing to the decision to replace it.
There are no plans or prospects for reopening the airport for public commercial aviation. The site's current function as a strategic military headquarters, combined with its location within a dense urban environment, makes a return to civilian operations unfeasible. The city of Bucaramanga is well-served by the modern and capable Palonegro International Airport, eliminating any need to reactivate the former airport.
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