Aleg Airport

Replacement and Modernization. The old Aleg Airport was closed because it was replaced by a new, modern airport facility located approximately 8 kilometers to the northeast. The old airport was rudimentary, featuring a short, unpaved laterite/dirt runway (approximately 1,200 meters) and minimal infrastructure. This made it unsuitable for modern aircraft and reliable, all-weather operations. The closure was part of a broader Mauritanian government initiative to improve national infrastructure by building new, modern airports in several regional capitals.

Abandoned and defunct. Satellite imagery of the site at coordinates 17.06862, -13.9084 shows the old runway is still clearly visible but is in a state of disrepair, with signs of erosion and vegetation growth. The few small buildings that served as the terminal and support facilities appear abandoned. The site is not being used for any formal purpose and is slowly being reclaimed by the surrounding environment. There is no aviation activity at the location.

The facility, officially known as Aleg Airport (ICAO: GQNA, IATA: LEG), served as the primary air link for Aleg, the capital of Mauritania's Brakna Region. The identifier 'MR-0011' is a non-standard code used in some unofficial databases, while GQNA was its official ICAO designation. Its main role was to provide domestic passenger and cargo services, primarily connecting the region to the capital, Nouakchott. Operations were historically handled by the national carrier, Air Mauritanie (until its collapse in 2007), and likely subsequent charter or government flights. The airport was vital for administrative travel, medical evacuations, and transporting essential goods. Due to its unpaved runway, it could only accommodate rugged, STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) capable turboprop aircraft such as the Fokker F27 Friendship, de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, or similar types.

None. There are no plans or prospects for reopening this old airport. Its function has been entirely and permanently superseded by the new Aleg Airport, which features a modern, paved 3,000-meter runway, a proper terminal building, and updated navigation aids. The new facility meets current aviation standards and can handle larger aircraft, making the old, outdated airstrip redundant and obsolete.