Minamidaito Airfield

The airfield was closed because it was replaced by the new, modern Minamidaito Airport (IATA: MMD, ICAO: ROMD). The original airfield had a short, 800-meter unpaved runway made of coral gravel. This surface and length made landings and takeoffs, particularly in crosswinds or rain, extremely challenging and resulted in frequent flight cancellations. To improve safety, reliability, and accommodate larger aircraft (like the DHC-8), a new airport with a 1,500-meter paved runway was constructed approximately 1 km to the east, leading to the immediate closure of the old facility upon the new one's opening.

The site of the former airfield has been completely decommissioned. The land has been repurposed primarily for agriculture, surrounded by the island's characteristic sugarcane fields. The faint outline of the former runway is still visible on satellite imagery and a portion of it has been converted into a local farm road. There are no remaining airport structures or facilities.

Opened in 1934, the airfield was initially built by the Dai Nippon Sugar Co. (大日本製糖) for private use related to the island's sugar cane industry. Following World War II, it became the island's sole air link to the outside world. It was a critical lifeline for the remote community, handling essential passenger, mail, and cargo transport. Operations were conducted by carriers like Air America and, most notably, Southwest Air Lines (which later became Japan Transocean Air - JTA), using STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft such as the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, which was capable of operating from the short, unprepared runway. Despite its operational difficulties, it was vital to the island's economy and connectivity for over 60 years.

There are zero prospects for reopening. The airport was permanently closed and made obsolete by the new Minamidaito Airport, which fully and more effectively serves the island's modern aviation requirements. The land has been redeveloped, and there is no need for a second, inferior airfield on the island.