Tablada Airport

The airport's role as Sevilla's primary civil airport was superseded by the construction of the larger and more modern San Pablo Airport. Tablada's infrastructure was becoming insufficient for the growing demands of post-war civil aviation, and its location was increasingly enveloped by urban expansion. This led to its conversion into a dedicated military installation rather than a complete closure.

The site is an active military installation known as **Base Aérea de Tablada**. The main fixed-wing runway has been dismantled, and it no longer functions as a primary operational airfield for combat aircraft. It now serves as a major administrative, logistical, and command center for the Spanish Air and Space Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio). It houses the General Air Command (Mando Aéreo General - MAGEN), various support units, historical archives, and a heliport (ICAO: LEST). The adjacent industrial area remains a key manufacturing and assembly site for Airbus.

Tablada was one of Spain's most important pioneering aviation sites. Its key historical points include:
- **Establishment:** Originating from an aviation festival in 1910, it was officially established as a permanent military aerodrome in 1920, becoming a cornerstone of Spanish military aviation.
- **Sevilla's First Airport:** It served as the city's first commercial airport, handling early passenger and mail routes that connected Sevilla with other Spanish cities and territories.
- **Record-Breaking Flights:** It was the departure point for the historic 1929 flight of the Breguet XIX aircraft named 'Jesús del Gran Poder,' which set a world endurance and distance record by flying non-stop from Sevilla to Bahia, Brazil (6,746 km).
- **Industrial Hub:** The site was a major center for aircraft manufacturing, hosting factories for Hispano Aviación and later CASA (Construcciones Aeronáuticas S.A.), which is now an integral part of Airbus Defence and Space.
- **Military Importance:** It was a key strategic air base for the Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War and remained a significant base for the Spanish Air Force throughout the 20th century.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Tablada as a public or commercial airport. It is an active and strategically important military base located within a dense urban area of Sevilla. The city's air traffic needs are fully and effectively served by the nearby Sevilla-San Pablo International Airport (SVQ), which has the infrastructure and capacity for current and future growth.