Marlboro Airport

Primarily economic reasons combined with urban development. The airstrip was heavily utilized by the bauxite companies, particularly Alcan (which later became Windalco), headquartered in the Mandeville area. As the bauxite industry faced significant downturns and restructuring from the 1980s onwards, the corporate need for the airstrip diminished. The land, being in a prime location in the growing town of Mandeville, became more valuable for real estate, leading to its sale and subsequent redevelopment.

The airport no longer exists. The site has been completely redeveloped into a residential and commercial area. The former runway and airport grounds are now occupied by housing schemes, roads, and businesses. The legacy of the airport lives on in local place names; for example, the main road that runs through the former airfield is named 'Marlboro Drive'. Satellite imagery clearly shows a dense suburban grid where the runway once lay.

Marlboro Airport, also known as Marlboro Airstrip, was a private airfield of significant local importance. Its primary function was to serve the thriving bauxite industry in the parishes of Manchester and St. Elizabeth. It provided a vital transportation link for company executives, engineers, and the transport of urgent, high-value parts and documents between Mandeville, Kingston, and other operational sites. The airport also catered to the general aviation community, including private pilots and small charter services for the affluent population of Mandeville, which included many expatriates associated with the bauxite industry. It was never a public commercial airport with scheduled passenger services.

There are zero prospects for reopening the original Marlboro Airport, as the site is irreversibly developed. However, there have been persistent discussions and proposals over the years to establish a new airport in central Jamaica, with Mandeville often cited as a potential location. Proponents, including local business leaders and politicians, argue that a new airport would spur economic growth, support the south coast tourism product, and improve domestic connectivity. Despite these recurring calls, no concrete plans, feasibility studies, or funding have been officially put in place by the Jamaican government.