Agrinion Air Base

The closure was a two-stage process for its dual uses.
1. **Cessation of Civilian Flights:** Commercial passenger flights, operated by Olympic Airways, were discontinued around 1975. This was primarily due to the development and opening of the nearby Aktion National Airport (LGPZ), which could accommodate larger aircraft and better serve the wider region of Western Greece.
2. **Deactivation of Military Operations:** The base was downgraded from a main operating base as part of a broader strategic restructuring of the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) following the end of the Cold War. This involved consolidating forces and resources into fewer, more modern air bases, making smaller, forward bases like Agrinion redundant for daily operations.

The air base is currently inactive and in a state of conservation under the ownership of the Hellenic Air Force. While the runway, taxiways, and some buildings remain intact, they are not maintained for aviation operations. A significant portion of the airfield's grounds, particularly areas adjacent to the main runway, has been repurposed and is now occupied by a large-scale photovoltaic (solar) power plant. The site is occasionally used for non-aviation activities such as model aircraft flying, car meets, and unauthorized drag racing events on the old runway.

Agrinion Air Base (also known by its official ICAO code, LGAG) has a significant history. It was initially constructed during World War II, around 1941, and was used by the German Luftwaffe as a forward airfield. After the war, it was taken over by the Hellenic Air Force and became a key strategic asset during the Cold War. It served as a Forward Operating Base (FOB) for numerous HAF fighter squadrons. Notable units and aircraft based at Agrinion over the years include the 336 Squadron 'Olympos' and the 343 Squadron 'Asteri', flying aircraft such as the F-84G Thunderjet, F-86D Sabre, F-104G Starfighter, and later the A-7H/TA-7H Corsair II. From 1960 to 1975, the airport also played a vital civilian role, connecting the Aetolia-Acarnania region with Athens through scheduled flights.

There are no official or concrete plans to reopen the airport. For many years, local government officials and business groups have periodically lobbied for its reactivation for civilian use, suggesting it could serve as a cargo hub, a base for low-cost carriers, or a general aviation facility to boost the local economy and tourism. However, these proposals have consistently failed to gain traction due to several significant obstacles: the high cost of modernizing the infrastructure to meet current safety and operational standards, the established presence and competition from the nearby Aktion National Airport, and, most recently, the physical encroachment of the large solar park on the airport's land, which presents a major new barrier to any potential aviation-related redevelopment.