Old Néma Airport

Replacement and obsolescence. The old airport was closed because a new, modern airport was built to better serve the region. The primary reasons for its replacement were:
1. **Inadequate Infrastructure:** The old runway was short (approximately 1,500 meters), unlit, and unable to handle larger, faster, and heavier aircraft that were becoming standard for domestic and regional travel.
2. **Urban Encroachment:** Located on the immediate southern edge of the city of Néma, the airport had no room for expansion of its runway or facilities due to the growing urban area.
3. **Modernization:** The new airport (GQNI) was part of a national infrastructure modernization program in Mauritania, providing a longer runway (over 2,100 meters), modern navigation aids, and better terminal facilities to improve safety and capacity.

The site is abandoned as an airfield and is being progressively reclaimed by the urban expansion of Néma. Satellite imagery of the coordinates (16.6057, -7.2835) shows the faint but clear outline of the old runway. However, it is in a state of complete disrepair. The southern portion of the former runway has been bisected and partially paved over by a new road, and new buildings have been constructed on its former footprint. The northern end is being encroached upon by residential and commercial structures. The site is not used for any formal purpose and is effectively derelict land being absorbed into the city's fabric.

For several decades, Old Néma Airport was the primary and sole air link for Néma, the capital of the Hodh Ech Chargui region, one of Mauritania's most remote areas. Its historical importance includes:
- **Administrative and Governmental Link:** It was a vital connection for government officials, military personnel, and administrative transport to and from the national capital, Nouakchott.
- **Commercial and Cargo Operations:** It was served by the national carrier, Air Mauritanie, using smaller propeller aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3 and DC-4. These flights were essential for transporting passengers, mail, and critical supplies in a region with challenging overland transport routes.
- **Humanitarian and Medical Aid:** The airfield played a crucial role in facilitating medical evacuations and the delivery of humanitarian aid, especially during droughts or health crises.

Zero. There are no plans or prospects for reopening the Old Néma Airport. The existence of the fully operational and superior Néma Airport (GQNI) a few kilometers to the northwest makes the old site redundant. The physical state of the old runway, combined with the irreversible urban encroachment, makes any potential reactivation for aviation purposes logistically impossible and economically unviable.