Colon Airport

Urban expansion and redevelopment. The city of Marcala grew rapidly, and the land occupied by the airstrip became valuable for development. The airport was enveloped by the city and eventually built over, making aviation operations impossible. Its closure was due to the need for land for housing, commerce, and public infrastructure rather than a specific incident, economic failure, or military conversion.

The site has been completely redeveloped and is now a central part of the city of Marcala. The path of the former runway has been transformed into a wide public boulevard and park area, known locally as 'El Paseo del Aeropuerto' or 'Bulevar del Aeropuerto' (The Airport Promenade/Boulevard). The surrounding area is now a mix of residential homes, commercial buildings, and recreational spaces. There are no physical remnants of the functional runway or airport facilities.

Colon Airport was a small, unpaved (dirt or grass) airstrip that served the important agricultural region of Marcala, which is renowned for its high-quality coffee production. The airport primarily handled general aviation, including private and charter flights using light aircraft such as Cessna 206s or Piper Cherokees. Its operations were vital for connecting this relatively remote mountainous area, facilitating business for coffee plantation owners, transporting personnel, and providing a link for emergency services before the local road network was significantly improved. The runway was approximately 800-900 meters (2,600-3,000 feet) long, suitable only for STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) capable aircraft.

Zero. The original airport site is irreversibly developed and fully integrated into the urban fabric of Marcala. It is physically impossible to restore the airstrip at this location. There are no known official plans or active projects to construct a new replacement airport in or near Marcala.