Santa Rosa de Copán Airport

The airport was closed primarily due to urban encroachment and obsolescence. As the city of Santa Rosa de Copán grew, residential and commercial areas expanded to surround the airstrip, making its operation increasingly hazardous. The land was strategically repurposed for critical public infrastructure projects that were deemed more important for the city's development. Furthermore, the airport's short, unpaved runway and the challenging mountainous terrain of the region made it unsuitable for larger, more modern aircraft, limiting its economic viability and safety.

The site of the former airport has been completely redeveloped and is now a vital, integrated part of the city's urban fabric. There are no visible remnants of the original airstrip. The land is now occupied by several key city landmarks, including:
- **Hospital de Occidente**: The main regional public hospital.
- **Terminal Metropolitana de Buses**: The city's primary intercity bus terminal.
- **Bulevar Jorge Bueso Arias**: A major boulevard that follows the approximate path of the former runway.
- **Universidad Católica de Honduras (UNICAH)**: A campus for the university.
- Various commercial centers, government offices, and residential neighborhoods.

For several decades, the Santa Rosa de Copán Airport was the primary and fastest transportation link for the entire western highland region of Honduras. It was a vital hub for domestic passenger and cargo traffic, connecting the region to the country's main cities, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, long before the road network was fully developed. National airlines like SAHSA (Servicio Aéreo de Honduras S.A.) operated scheduled flights, typically using robust propeller aircraft like the Douglas DC-3, which were capable of handling the basic conditions of the airstrip. The airport was crucial for the local economy, supporting the coffee, tobacco, and cattle ranching industries by facilitating business travel and the transport of high-value goods.

Reopening the original airport at its historical location is impossible due to the extensive and permanent urban development on the site. However, there have been persistent discussions and formal proposals for constructing a new airport for the region, often referred to as the 'Aeropuerto de Occidente' (Western Airport). The primary motivations are to boost the significant tourism potential of the area (including the nearby Copán Ruinas UNESCO World Heritage site) and to improve economic connectivity for western Honduras. Various feasibility studies have been conducted over the years, with potential locations identified in flatter areas outside the city, such as the plains near the municipality of Cucuyagua. As of late 2023, these plans remain in the proposal stage, pending political will and significant financial investment, with no concrete timeline for construction.