Aeródromo de La Lora

The closure was for purely economic reasons, directly linked to the decline of the industry it was built to serve. The aerodrome was a private facility built and operated by the oil company Petronor. As production from the nearby Ayoluengo oil field dwindled, the need for a dedicated, expensive-to-maintain airfield for corporate transport became unjustifiable. With the oil field's eventual shutdown, the airport lost its sole reason for existence.

The site is completely abandoned. The infrastructure, including the approximately 1,200-meter asphalt runway and a small, derelict terminal/hangar building, remains. However, the runway is in a state of severe decay, with numerous cracks, potholes, and significant vegetation growth. The site is widely known locally and is unofficially used for various recreational and sometimes illegal activities. These include motorsports (drag racing, car meet-ups, drifting), motorcycle practice, drone flying, and a place for people to learn to drive due to its long, flat, and traffic-free surface.

The aerodrome's significance is unique as it was not a public or military airport. It was a private, corporate airfield constructed around 1978-1979 by Petronor (now part of the Repsol group). Its sole purpose was to provide rapid air transport for personnel, executives, and light equipment between the company's main operations near Bilbao and the Ayoluengo oil field in La Lora. This field was Spain's only significant onshore oil production site. The airfield typically handled private turboprop aircraft (like the Beechcraft King Air) and represented a direct, physical link between Spain's domestic energy industry and corporate aviation during the late 20th century.

There are no known official plans or serious prospects for reopening the Aeródromo de La Lora. The economic case for its reactivation is non-existent. The cost to refurbish the runway and facilities to meet modern aviation safety standards would be substantial. Furthermore, the low population density of the Valderredible valley and the proximity of established airports in larger cities like Santander (SDR) and Burgos (RGS) mean there is no demand for a commercial or general aviation airport in this specific location.