Dounreay/Thurso Airport

The airport's closure was a direct consequence of the cessation of operations and the beginning of the large-scale decommissioning of the Dounreay Nuclear Power Development Establishment, which it exclusively served. As the nuclear site wound down, the need for a dedicated airfield for personnel transport became redundant. Remaining regional air travel was consolidated at the nearby public Wick John O'Groats Airport (EGPC), making the Dounreay airfield economically unviable.

The site is now an integral part of the Dounreay nuclear decommissioning site, which is managed by Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL). The original runways and taxiways are still clearly visible but are in a state of decay and are not maintained for aviation. The land is undergoing long-term environmental monitoring and restoration as part of the comprehensive site closure plan. It is closed to the public and is essentially dormant land within a high-security, industrial-scale decommissioning project.

The airfield has a dual history. It was first established in 1944 as RAF Dounreay, a satellite station for RAF Skitten, serving as a World War II Coastal Command base. Its primary and more significant role began in the mid-1950s when the site was transferred to the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). It was reopened and operated as a private airfield to support the Dounreay Nuclear Power Development Establishment. For over 40 years, it was a vital transport link for the remote, high-security facility, handling regular shuttle flights for thousands of scientists, engineers, and official personnel. Operations primarily consisted of small turboprop aircraft, such as the Hawker Siddeley HS 748, connecting Dounreay with hubs like Manchester. The ICAO code 'GB-1236' is a non-standard identifier from a third-party database; its official ICAO code during its operational life was EGJD.

There are no plans or credible prospects for reopening the airport. The focus of all activity at the Dounreay site is on its safe and secure decommissioning, a complex and multi-decade project scheduled to continue well into the 2030s and beyond. The existence of Wick John O'Groats Airport, located approximately 20 miles to the east, adequately serves the Caithness region's air transport needs, eliminating any strategic or economic case for reviving the Dounreay airfield.