Isla de Guanaja, HN 🇭🇳 Closed Airport
ICAO
HN-0007
IATA
-
Elevation
36 ft
Region
HN-IB
Local Time
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 16.4943° N, -85.865868° E
Continent: North America
Type: Closed Airport
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Travelers to Savannah Bight Airport (HN-0007) in Isla de Guanaja generally embrace the authentic, "no-frills" island experience, viewing the airport as a gateway to a peaceful and untouched Caribbean treasure. While the airport itself is very basic, the overall sentiment is shaped by the unique charm of Guanaja and the adventure of reaching it.
Savannah Bight Airport serves as a functional, albeit minimalist, entry point to the beautiful Isla de Guanaja. Travelers should arrive with an expectation of rustic charm and a reliance on water transportation, which is an integral part of the island's unique appeal.
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| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NW/SE |
4100 ft | - ft | GRS | Closed |
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|
The airport ceased regular operations and was officially closed in the late 1990s. While an exact date is not publicly documented, its decline and eventual closure are closely associated with the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, which devastated the island in October 1998, and the subsequent consolidation of all air services to the island's main airport.
The primary reason for closure was redundancy and obsolescence following the development and modernization of the main Guanaja Airport (IATA: GJA, ICAO: MHNJ). The Savannah Bight strip was a short, unpaved, and rudimentary airfield suitable only for small STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft. The main airport offered a longer, paved runway, superior facilities, and safer over-water approaches, allowing it to handle the larger turboprop aircraft (like the ATR-42 and Let L-410) used by regional airlines. This made the continued operation and maintenance of the Savannah Bight strip economically unviable and logistically unnecessary.
The site of the former airport is no longer used for any aviation purposes. An examination of the location via satellite imagery confirms that the runway area is completely overgrown with grass and vegetation. It has been repurposed by the local community and now functions as a wide footpath, a road for motorcycles and ATVs, and a general open public space. Houses and other structures have been built directly adjacent to the edges of the former runway, making any future use as an airfield impossible without significant demolition and redevelopment.
Savannah Bight Airport served as a vital, local 'bush strip' for the community of Savannah Bight and the surrounding settlements on the eastern side of Guanaja. Before the main airport became the sole, modern air hub, this airstrip provided a critical connection for transporting residents, mail, and essential supplies to and from the mainland and Roatán. It primarily handled small general aviation and charter aircraft, such as the Cessna 206 and Britten-Norman Islander. Its operation was crucial for local commerce, medical evacuations, and providing access for the early tourism ventures located on that part of the island.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Savannah Bight Airport. The island of Guanaja is adequately and more safely served by the modern Guanaja Airport (GJA/MHNJ), which handles all commercial and private air traffic. The former airstrip at Savannah Bight is too short, unmaintained, and heavily encroached upon by the local settlement to meet modern aviation safety standards. Re-establishing the airport would be economically unjustifiable and logistically impractical.