El Vergel Airport

The closure was driven by a combination of economic and urban planning factors. The airport experienced very low passenger and cargo traffic, making it financially unviable to maintain and operate. Furthermore, the city of Riobamba had expanded significantly, and the airport's central location was considered a safety risk and an obstacle to urban development. The government and local municipality decided the valuable land would be better utilized for public and residential projects.

The site has been completely transformed and is no longer an aviation facility. The former airport grounds have been redeveloped into a large urban project known as the 'Parque Bicentenario' (Bicentennial Park). The runway, while still visible and largely intact, is now used for recreational activities like walking, cycling, and driving schools, as well as for hosting public events and festivals. The surrounding land is being developed for housing, commercial use, and green spaces as part of the city's master plan.

The airport, officially known as Riobamba Airport (former ICAO: SERB), was the main air transport facility for Riobamba and the surrounding Chimborazo Province. In its heyday, it handled regional flights, including services by the former national airline TAME, connecting the central highlands to other parts of Ecuador. Over time, scheduled commercial flights ceased due to low demand. In its final years, the airport's operations were limited to general aviation, air taxi services, private flights, and occasional use by the Ecuadorian Armed Forces for logistical and training purposes. The provided ICAO code 'EC-0066' is a non-official identifier, likely used in flight simulator databases.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening El Vergel/Riobamba Airport. The land has been permanently repurposed for urban development, and the 'Parque Bicentenario' is a major, established feature of the city. The urban growth around the site makes any future aviation operations both impractical and unsafe. The closure is considered permanent.