Santa Amelia Southeast Airstrip

A combination of economic obsolescence and regional security issues. The airstrip was likely a private field supporting a large agricultural operation (finca). Such private airstrips are often abandoned when ground transportation improves or the operational costs become prohibitive. Furthermore, the Petén department is a known corridor for narco-trafficking, and unused or unmonitored airstrips are frequently co-opted for illicit activities. The Guatemalan government actively locates and disables these 'pistas clandestinas' (clandestine runways). While there is no public record of a specific operation against GT-0039, its closure fits the pattern of either being abandoned by its legal owner to prevent illicit use or being disabled by authorities after such use was detected.

The site is abandoned and the airstrip is in a state of complete disrepair. Satellite imagery shows the runway outline is still visible but is heavily overgrown with grass and shrubs, making it unusable for any type of aircraft. The surrounding land remains in active use as a large agricultural plantation, appearing to be primarily for palm oil cultivation. There are no buildings, hangars, or aviation infrastructure remaining at the site.

The airstrip had no major historical significance in terms of public or military aviation. Its purpose was almost certainly private and logistical. Located in the heart of an agricultural region, it would have served a large local finca, likely for the cultivation of palm oil or for cattle ranching. Operations would have included transporting company personnel, moving high-value supplies and spare parts, conducting emergency medical evacuations, and possibly aerial application (crop dusting). It was never served by commercial airlines and did not have an IATA code.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Santa Amelia Southeast Airstrip. Given the high level of scrutiny by Guatemalan authorities on airstrips in the Petén region to combat drug trafficking, obtaining permission to reactivate a remote, private airstrip would be exceptionally difficult. For all practical purposes, it is considered permanently closed.