Kish, IR 🇮🇷 Closed Airport
IR-0131
-
72 ft
IR-22
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 26.5491° N, 53.97661° E
Continent: AS
Type: Closed Airport
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Approximately late 1990s
Replacement and Redundancy. The airport was closed following the major expansion and modernization of the new Kish International Airport (OIBK / KIH), located less than 2 kilometers to the west. The original airport's shorter runway and limited infrastructure were insufficient to handle the increasing volume of tourist traffic and larger aircraft (like the Boeing 747s which became frequent visitors) after Kish Island was designated a major Free Trade Zone in 1992. The new airport was better equipped to support the island's rapid growth as a primary commercial and tourist hub.
The site has been completely repurposed as a major sports and recreational area. The former runway and airport grounds are no longer used for aviation. A large portion of the old runway has been converted into the Kish Karting Track, a professional-grade go-karting facility. The surrounding area is now part of the Kish Olympic Sports Complex, featuring facilities for various sports including archery, tennis, and more. The long, flat expanse of the old airfield was ideally suited for this redevelopment.
This was the original airport for Kish Island, constructed in the 1970s as a key component of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's plan to develop the island into a luxury international resort, often dubbed the 'Pearl of the Persian Gulf'. It served as the primary gateway for early investors, tourists, and dignitaries visiting the island's exclusive attractions, including its famous casino (now the Shayan International Hotel) and resort complexes. The airport handled smaller commercial airliners of the era and significant general aviation traffic, playing a crucial role in the initial phase of Kish's development before the 1979 revolution.
Zero. There are no plans or prospects for reopening this site as an airport. The land has been permanently redeveloped with significant investment in public sports and recreational infrastructure. Furthermore, the modern and fully operational Kish International Airport (OIBK) is located immediately adjacent to the old site and adequately serves all of the island's domestic and international air traffic needs, making a second airport redundant and impractical.
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