Mariánské Lázně Airfield

Land-use and economic reasons. The airfield was situated on land owned by the state-owned company Lesy ČR (Forests of the Czech Republic). The company decided not to renew the lease with the aeroclub, intending to return the land to its original purpose of forestry and agriculture (reforestation). There was no military conversion or major accident that led to the closure.

The site is defunct and abandoned as an airfield. The grass runway is overgrown and is being reclaimed by nature, consistent with the landowner's plan for reforestation. Satellite imagery shows the faint outline of the former runway, but it is no longer maintained or usable for aviation. The associated buildings, such as the hangar and clubhouse, are in a state of disrepair or have been removed.

It is crucial to distinguish between two airfields in the history of Mariánské Lázně:

1. **The Original, Larger Airport (1927 - ~1970s):** The city had a significant pre-war and post-war airport located closer to the town. Opened in 1927, it served the famous spa town with regular domestic flights by Czechoslovak State Airlines (ČSA) connecting to Prague and other cities. During WWII, it was used by the German Luftwaffe. After the war, it was used by the Czechoslovak military and for some domestic flights, but its short runway and proximity to the expanding town made it obsolete. It was eventually closed and the land was redeveloped.

2. **The Skláře Airfield (CZ-0193):** The airfield at the specified coordinates was a much smaller, post-war facility primarily for sport and general aviation. It was the home of the Aeroklub Mariánské Lázně. Operations consisted mainly of glider towing and flying, ultralight aircraft, and small single-engine planes. It served as a local hub for aviation enthusiasts and provided sightseeing flights over the spa region. Its ICAO code, CZ-0193, is a national identifier for ultralight airfields, reflecting its status as a small, non-commercial facility.

None known or likely. The land is under the management of Lesy ČR for forestry purposes, making a reversal of this decision highly improbable. There are no known public or private plans to re-establish an airfield at this location. The region is adequately served for commercial and private aviation by the nearby international Karlovy Vary Airport (LKKV), which is approximately 30 km to the northeast.