New Bordj Omar Driss Airport (under construction)

The primary reason for the suspension of the project was economic. The sharp decline in global oil prices that began in mid-2014 severely impacted Algeria's national budget, which is heavily reliant on hydrocarbon revenues. In response, the Algerian government implemented austerity measures and suspended numerous large-scale, non-essential infrastructure projects across the country. The New Bordj Omar Driss Airport was one of the projects affected by these budget cuts and was subsequently abandoned mid-construction.

The site is currently abandoned. Satellite imagery shows a fully paved and marked runway, a parallel taxiway, and an apron. However, there are no terminal buildings, hangars, or other significant operational structures. The site appears to be in a state of arrested development, with the completed groundwork slowly being reclaimed by the Sahara desert. Sand is visibly encroaching on the paved surfaces, and there is no evidence of any ongoing maintenance or construction activity.

As an uncompleted project, the airport has no operational history. Its significance lies in its intended purpose. It was a strategic infrastructure project designed to support and enhance Algeria's vital oil and gas industry in the remote Illizi Province. The new airport, featuring a long, paved runway (approximately 3,000 meters), was meant to replace the existing, much smaller and more primitive sand airstrip at Bordj Omar Driss (ICAO: DAAO). The new facility would have been capable of handling larger jet aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, which would have dramatically improved logistics for transporting personnel and sensitive equipment for state-owned energy company Sonatrach and its international partners. Its abandonment serves as a physical marker of the mid-2010s economic downturn in Algeria.

There are currently no known official plans or public announcements from the Algerian government or transport authorities to resume construction and complete the airport. The project remains indefinitely suspended. Reopening would require a significant new capital investment to build the terminal, control tower, navigational aids, and other essential facilities. Given the substantial cost and the continued focus on other national priorities, the prospects for the project being revived in the near future are considered very low.