Bir El Baheira Airfield

The airfield was almost certainly closed due to the cessation of the specific project it was built to support. Given its remote desert location, the most probable reason is the conclusion of oil or gas exploration activities in the area. Such airstrips were commonly built by energy companies for logistical support and were simply abandoned once the exploration phase ended or a concession was deemed not commercially viable. It was not a public airport, so its closure was a matter of economic abandonment, not a regulatory decision.

The site is completely abandoned and in an advanced state of decay. The faint outlines of the two runways are still visible on satellite imagery, but they are heavily eroded, partially covered by sand, and completely unusable for any type of aircraft. There are no remaining buildings, hangars, or any other infrastructure at the location. The site is unmarked, unfenced, and is slowly being reclaimed by the surrounding Libyan desert.

Bir El Baheira Airfield was a remote, austere desert landing ground with no known major historical or military significance. Its purpose was purely logistical. It consisted of two unpaved, graded dirt or gravel runways. It was built to support commercial operations, most likely oil and gas exploration, during the peak of Libya's oil boom in the mid-to-late 20th century. The airfield would have handled rugged, STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) capable aircraft, such as the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter or Dornier Do 28, to transport personnel, supplies, and light equipment to and from the remote exploration site. It was a functional, temporary piece of infrastructure, vital for the project it served but not intended for long-term or public use.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Bir El Baheira Airfield. Its remote location, the lack of any current economic activity in the immediate vicinity, and the ongoing political and security instability in Libya make its reactivation extremely unlikely. Any future industrial or exploration activity in the area that requires air support would likely involve the construction of a new, modern airstrip rather than attempting to restore this long-abandoned and deteriorated site.