Atahualpa Airport

The primary reason for the closure was urban encroachment. The airport was located in the heart of Ibarra, and as the city expanded, it became surrounded by residential and commercial areas. This posed significant safety risks, generated noise pollution, and hindered further urban development. The closure was a strategic decision by the national and local governments to relocate air services and repurpose the valuable central land for public use.

The entire airport site has been completely transformed into a large public park called 'Parque Ciudad Blanca' (White City Park), a nod to Ibarra's nickname. It is now one of the city's most important recreational areas, featuring extensive green spaces, sports courts, playgrounds, and pedestrian and bicycle paths. The long, straight layout of the former main runway has been preserved as a central boulevard within the park, serving as a prominent reminder of the site's aviation past.

The airport, officially known by the ICAO code SEIB (the code EC-0063 is a non-standard identifier), was named after the last Inca emperor, Atahualpa. It served as the main air terminal for Ibarra and the surrounding Imbabura province for decades. It handled both civilian and military operations. The state airline TAME was the primary commercial operator, providing domestic flights that connected Ibarra with other cities, most notably the capital, Quito. The airport was also an important base for the Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana - FAE) for training and light transport, as well as serving general aviation and private aircraft.

There are zero prospects for reopening Atahualpa Airport. The land has been permanently and irreversibly converted into a vital urban park. A plan existed to construct a new, larger airport for the province in a rural area outside of Ibarra (in the vicinity of San Antonio de Ibarra), but this project has been stalled for many years due to financial constraints and shifting government priorities. As a result, the region currently lacks an operational commercial airport, and any future air service is contingent on the eventual construction of a new facility at a different location, not the revival of the old one.