Fes Sefrou Airport

The closure was primarily due to replacement and urban encroachment. The new Fès-Saïss Airport, located further south, offered longer runways and modern facilities required for the new generation of jet airliners. The Fes-Sefrou airport was located too close to the expanding city, making it impossible to extend the runways or establish larger safety zones. Its operations were incompatible with the surrounding urban growth, leading to its decommissioning to free up valuable land for city development.

The former airport site has been completely and irreversibly redeveloped. It is now a densely populated urban area and an integral part of the city of Fes. The land is occupied by a mix of residential neighborhoods, commercial properties, and major public institutions. A significant portion of the former airfield is now the campus for the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Fes (Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de Fès - FSTF) and other university facilities. The old runways and taxiways have been replaced by major roads (like Avenue Allal Ben Abdellah), buildings, and parks. There is no physical trace of the airport's operational infrastructure remaining.

Fes-Sefrou was the original primary airport for Fes, established during the French Protectorate period. It held significant importance as both a civilian and military airfield.

- **Military Operations:** It was a key French Air Force base, known as Base Aérienne 153 Fès. It played a strategic role for military transport and operations in the region.
- **Civilian Operations:** It handled all of the region's commercial air traffic, connecting Fes with other Moroccan cities like Casablanca and Rabat, as well as with destinations in France. It was the gateway to Fes for international visitors and dignitaries for several decades.
- **General Aviation:** The airport was also home to the Royal Flying Club of Fes (Aéro-club Royal de Fès), serving as a center for recreational flying and pilot training.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening this airport. The land has been fully utilized for urban development, making any return to aviation use impossible. The city of Fes and the surrounding region are well-served by Fès-Saïss Airport (GMFF/FEZ), which has undergone multiple expansions to accommodate modern aircraft and a growing number of international and domestic passengers.