Melchor de Mencos Airport

The primary reason for the airport's closure was its conversion into a strategic military installation. The Guatemalan government repurposed the site to establish the headquarters for the Guatemalan Army's First Infantry Brigade ('Primera Brigada de Infantería General Luis García León'). This decision was driven by the need to increase military presence and enhance security along the sensitive border with Belize.

The site of the former airport is now an active military base and is completely unrecognizable as an airfield. It houses the barracks, administrative buildings, training grounds, and vehicle depots for the Guatemalan Army's First Infantry Brigade. Satellite imagery shows that new buildings have been constructed directly on the southern portion of the former runway, and the remaining paved/compacted surface is used as a parade ground, access road, and parking area for military vehicles. It is no longer an aviation facility and is closed to the public.

Melchor de Mencos Airport, also known by its former ICAO code MGMM, served as a vital air link for the remote Petén department. Its historical significance includes:

1. **Strategic Location:** Situated in the key border town of Melchor de Mencos, it was a gateway between Guatemala and Belize, facilitating cross-border travel and commerce.
2. **Tourism Hub:** It provided air access for tourists visiting the world-renowned Tikal National Park and other Mayan archaeological sites in the region, who often crossed over from Belize.
3. **General Aviation and Charter Operations:** The airport primarily handled general aviation, private aircraft, and charter flights. The runway was unpaved (gravel/dirt) for most of its existence, limiting it to smaller, STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) capable aircraft such as Cessna 206s, Caravans, and Islanders.
4. **Military & Government Logistics:** The Guatemalan Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca) and other government agencies used the airstrip for logistical support, personnel transport, and medical evacuations in the vast, sparsely populated region.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airport at its original location. The complete and permanent conversion of the site into a critical military installation makes a return to civilian aviation use highly improbable. Any future initiative to restore air service to Melchor de Mencos would require the construction of an entirely new airport at a different location. Currently, the main airport serving the entire Petén region is Mundo Maya International Airport (IATA: FRS, ICAO: MGTK) located near Flores, approximately 95 kilometers (60 miles) to the west.