Basra Maqal Airport

The primary reason for closure was its replacement by the larger, more modern Basra International Airport (BSR). Maqal Airport's urban location, situated directly within the city of Basra, made expansion impossible and created significant safety and noise concerns. Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the site was formally converted into a military base for coalition forces and subsequently handed over to Iraqi security forces, cementing its closure to civilian air traffic.

The site is no longer an airport. It has been fully integrated into a high-security military and government complex known as the Basra Presidential Palaces compound (or 'Qusur'). The original runway and some taxiways are still visible from satellite imagery, but they are not maintained for fixed-wing aircraft operations. The area is now used by Iraqi Security Forces and contains military barracks, administrative buildings, and helipads. The site is an active military installation and is not accessible to the public.

Maqal Airport has significant historical importance. It was originally established as RAF Basra during the British Mandate of Mesopotamia in the 1920s. It became a crucial stop on the pioneering Imperial Airways Eastern Route, connecting London to India and Australia. For many decades, it served as the main gateway to southern Iraq, handling both domestic flights (primarily by Iraqi Airways) and limited international traffic. Its location on the Shatt al-Arab waterway made it strategically important for both civil and military logistics throughout its operational history.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Maqal Airport for civilian aviation. Its reopening is considered infeasible for several reasons:
1. It has been completely repurposed as a secure military and government base.
2. The larger, modern Basra International Airport (BSR) fully serves the region's commercial aviation needs.
3. The surrounding area is now densely populated, making flight operations unsafe by modern standards.
4. The infrastructure is decades old and would require a complete overhaul that is not economically viable.