Ishigaki Airport

The airport was permanently closed and replaced by the New Ishigaki Airport (IATA: ISG, ICAO: ROIG), which opened the following day. The old airport, officially known as Ishigaki Airport (Former), had significant operational limitations. Its single runway was only 1,500 meters (4,921 ft) long, which was too short to accommodate larger jet aircraft used for international flights or high-capacity domestic routes. Furthermore, its location within a dense urban area prevented any runway extension, created noise pollution issues for residents, and posed safety concerns. The new airport was built to overcome these issues, featuring a longer 2,000-meter runway and a more remote location to boost tourism and cargo capacity for the region.

The former airport site has been completely demolished and is undergoing extensive urban redevelopment. The land has been repurposed for municipal, commercial, and residential use. A significant portion of the site is now occupied by the new Ishigaki City Hall, which opened in November 2021. Other developments on the former airport grounds include new government buildings, commercial facilities, public parks, and housing projects, transforming the area into a new city center.

Originally constructed in 1943 as a military airfield for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. After the war, it was converted for civilian use and became the primary air gateway to Ishigaki Island and the greater Yaeyama Islands for over half a century. It was vital to the development of the region's tourism industry and provided an essential transport link to mainland Japan. Major Japanese carriers like Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) operated regular flights, primarily using smaller aircraft like the Boeing 737 that could operate on the short runway. It handled domestic traffic from key hubs such as Naha, Tokyo-Haneda, and Osaka-Kansai.

There are zero prospects for reopening. The airport was officially and permanently replaced. Its infrastructure, including the runway and terminal buildings, has been completely removed, and the land has been irreversibly redeveloped for other purposes.