Golding Island Airport

The closure was due to economic reasons and a lack of demand. These small, remote airstrips exist solely to serve the needs of the farm settlements they are on. The closure of Golding Island's airstrip would be linked to a decline in the island's resident population, a change in farm ownership or operations, or the residents opting for other means of transport (like boat access to a neighboring island with an active airstrip). There is no indication it was closed due to a specific accident or for military purposes.

The site is defunct and has reverted to its natural state. The former runway is now an overgrown field, likely used for sheep grazing as part of the Golding Island farm. Without regular maintenance, the airstrip is no longer visible or usable. Satellite imagery of the coordinates shows a faint linear feature in the landscape that was likely the runway, but it is now indistinguishable from the surrounding pasture.

The airstrip's significance was purely local but vital for the community it served. It was one of dozens of remote grass or gravel runways that formed the backbone of the Falkland Islands' domestic transport network. Operations were almost exclusively conducted by the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) using their fleet of Britten-Norman Islander aircraft, which are designed for short take-offs and landings (STOL) on unprepared surfaces. The airport connected the isolated residents of Golding Island to the capital, Stanley, and other settlements, providing a critical link for mail, medical services, essential supplies, and passenger travel.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Golding Island Airport. Re-establishing the airstrip would require a renewed, permanent need for air service on the island, which is unlikely given population trends in the Falklands' smaller outer islands. It would also necessitate significant investment to clear, level, and ensure the runway meets modern safety standards for FIGAS operations. Therefore, the prospect of reopening is considered virtually zero.