Matahambre Airport

Primarily economic reasons. The airfield was built and operated almost exclusively to serve the logistical needs of the Matahambre copper mines. With the significant decline and eventual closure of the mines in the late 20th century, the airport lost its purpose and financial support, leading to its abandonment and decommissioning.

The airport is completely closed and decommissioned. An analysis of satellite imagery of the coordinates reveals the faint, ghostly outline of a single runway. The land has been entirely reclaimed for agricultural purposes, with the former runway area now appearing as fields and pastureland. There are no remaining airport buildings, such as a terminal or hangars, visible on the site. The physical infrastructure of the airport has effectively been erased from the landscape.

The airport was a vital piece of infrastructure for the Minas de Matahambre, once one of the most productive copper mines in the world. Its primary role was to serve as a corporate and logistical airstrip. It facilitated the rapid transport of mining company executives, engineers, specialized personnel, and high-priority, lightweight cargo (such as documents, replacement parts, and geological samples) between the remote mining town and larger Cuban cities like Havana. Before the 1959 revolution, it was crucial for the American-owned company operating the mine. After nationalization, it continued to serve the state-run mining enterprise until its operations ceased. The airport primarily handled small general aviation aircraft, such as single and twin-engine propeller planes.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening Matahambre Airport. The economic driver for its existence—the large-scale mining operation—is gone. The region's limited air transport needs are met by larger, established airports in the Pinar del Río province. Re-establishing the airport would require a complete reconstruction from the ground up, an investment for which there is no current economic or logistical justification.