Degah Bur Airport

The airport was closed because it was replaced by a new, modern facility. The old airport (ET-0013) was a basic, unpaved gravel/dirt airstrip that was inadequate for reliable, all-weather operations with modern aircraft. The Ethiopian government constructed the new Degeh Bur Airport (IATA: DGC, ICAO: HADC) a few kilometers to the northeast, featuring a paved runway and updated facilities. Upon the inauguration and full operational capability of the new airport, the old airstrip was rendered obsolete and permanently closed.

The site of the former airport is abandoned and derelict. Current satellite imagery clearly shows the outline of the former ENE-WSW oriented runway. However, the surface is heavily deteriorated, unmaintained, and slowly being reclaimed by vegetation. There are no remaining buildings or aviation infrastructure on the site. The land has not been repurposed for any other use such as agriculture or construction and remains a disused field.

For decades, this airstrip was a critical lifeline for the remote town of Degeh Bur and the strategically important Ogaden region. Its primary significance was threefold:
1. **Military Logistics:** It served as a vital forward operating strip for the Ethiopian National Defense Force, especially during the Ogaden War (1977-1978) and subsequent periods of regional instability. It facilitated the transport of troops, supplies, and medical evacuations.
2. **Humanitarian Aid:** The airport was extensively used by international and non-governmental organizations, such as the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to deliver essential food aid and medical supplies during recurrent droughts and famines that have affected the region.
3. **Administrative Connectivity:** It provided the main air link for government officials and administrative personnel to and from the region's capital and Addis Ababa.
Operations were typically limited to rugged, Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) aircraft like the DHC-6 Twin Otter, and military transports like the C-130 Hercules which are capable of using unprepared runways.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening this airport. Its function has been permanently superseded by the new, superior Degeh Bur Airport (DGC). The old site is considered fully redundant, and there is no economic or strategic incentive to invest in its reconstruction or reactivation.