Kamatanda Airport

The closure was a result of a combination of factors rather than a single event. The primary reasons include: 1) Economic Decline: The collapse of the Zairean economy led to a lack of funds for maintenance and operations. 2) Infrastructure Decay: The unpaved runway, navigation aids, and any support buildings deteriorated beyond use without upkeep. 3) Regional Conflict: The wars in the region disrupted all forms of transport and made small, unsecured airfields unviable. 4) Redundancy: The subsequent rehabilitation and modernization of the larger, more capable Kolwezi Airport (FZQM), located about 65 km to the west, rendered Kamatanda Airport obsolete for serving the region's primary economic driver, the mining industry.

The site is completely abandoned and derelict. Satellite imagery clearly shows the remnants of an unpaved runway, approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) long. The runway surface is heavily deteriorated, overgrown with grass and scrub, and is crossed by several local dirt tracks. There are no visible signs of any remaining airport buildings such as a terminal or hangars. The land is not being used for any formal purpose and is slowly being reclaimed by nature.

Kamatanda Airport was historically significant as a key infrastructure asset for the Katanga Copperbelt, one of the world's richest mining regions. Its primary purpose was to support the extensive copper and cobalt mining operations in the area, initially for the Belgian company Union Minière du Haut-Katanga and later its state-owned successor, Gécamines. The airport handled general aviation and charter flights, transporting mining executives, engineers, specialized equipment, and other essential cargo. It provided a vital air link for the mining town of Kamatanda, connecting it to regional centers like Kolwezi and the provincial capital, Lubumbashi.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Kamatanda Airport. All regional and international aviation investment in the area is focused on Kolwezi Airport (FZQM), which has undergone significant upgrades, including a new terminal and runway improvements, to handle increased traffic from the booming mining sector. Given the prohibitive cost of rehabilitating Kamatanda's derelict infrastructure and the existence of a modern, functional airport nearby, Kamatanda Airport is considered permanently closed.