General Manuel Serrano Airport

The airport was closed and replaced by the new, larger, and more modern Santa Rosa Regional Airport (IATA: ETR, ICAO: SERO). The General Manuel Serrano Airport was located within the growing urban area of Machala, which created several problems: it posed a safety risk to surrounding neighborhoods, its physical location prevented runway expansion to accommodate larger aircraft, and it could not be upgraded with modern navigation systems for all-weather or night operations. The new airport was built in a less populated area to resolve these issues and better serve the entire El Oro province.

The airport has been completely demolished and the land has been fully repurposed. The former airport site has been transformed into a major urban development project. A large portion of the land is now the 'Parque Urbano Bicentenario' (Bicentennial Urban Park), a major recreational space for the city. The remaining area has been used to build new roads, commercial centers, government buildings, and residential housing. No infrastructure from the original airport remains.

Historically, this airport operated with the IATA code MCH and the ICAO code SEMC. It was the primary air gateway to the El Oro province, a region famous as the 'Banana Capital of the World.' The airport was crucial for the economic development of southern Ecuador, facilitating business travel related to the thriving banana, shrimp, and gold mining industries. It handled domestic passenger and cargo flights, primarily connecting Machala with the country's major hubs in Quito and Guayaquil. Airlines such as the former national carrier TAME (Línea Aérea del Ecuador) were regular operators.

There are zero prospects for reopening this airport. It is permanently closed, the land has been irreversibly redeveloped, and a modern replacement airport is fully operational nearby, fulfilling all regional air service needs.