AIRBAS Airfield

Economic obsolescence and strategic redundancy. The primary reason for its closure was the construction and opening of the larger, more modern, and better-funded 'Pista Mattei' (Enrico Mattei Airfield, ICAO: LIBP) in the nearby municipality of Pisticci, just a few kilometers away. The new airfield was developed to serve the corporate needs of the energy company ENI and the broader general aviation and business community of the Val Basento industrial area, rendering the smaller, privately-run AIRBAS field obsolete.

The airfield is abandoned and in a state of significant disrepair. While the runway and taxiway layout are still clearly visible from satellite imagery, they are cracked, weathered, and partially reclaimed by vegetation. A large portion of the land that comprised the airfield, particularly areas adjacent to the runway, has been repurposed for a large ground-mounted solar panel farm. The hangars and associated buildings appear to be derelict.

AIRBAS Airfield was an 'Aviosuperficie', an Italian classification for a small airfield primarily used for recreational flying, ultralight aircraft, and general aviation. Its significance was purely local, serving as a hub for private pilots and flying enthusiasts in the Matera province. The name 'AIRBAS' is believed to be a portmanteau of 'Air Basilicata'. It featured a single asphalt runway (approximately 01/19) around 850 meters in length. It never handled commercial, scheduled, or significant cargo traffic, but was an important local asset for the general aviation community before its decline.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening AIRBAS Airfield. The existence of the fully operational and superior Pista Mattei in Pisticci negates any strategic or economic need for this smaller field. Furthermore, the conversion of a significant part of the property into a solar farm presents a major physical and financial obstacle to any potential restoration for aviation use. The site is considered permanently closed.