Palenque Old Airport

Replacement and obsolescence. The old airport had a short runway and limited facilities, making it unsuitable for larger jet aircraft required to boost tourism to the region. The Mexican government invested in building the new, modern Palenque International Airport a few kilometers away with a longer runway (2,500 meters) and facilities capable of handling aircraft like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, thus rendering the old airport redundant for civilian passenger traffic.

The site was not abandoned. It was repurposed by the Mexican Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) and is now an active military installation. It operates as the Base Aérea Militar No. 16 (BAM-16) of the Fuerza Aérea Mexicana (Mexican Air Force). Satellite imagery confirms the presence of military aircraft, hangars, and operational facilities on the site.

For decades, this airport was the primary air gateway to the city of Palenque and its world-famous Mayan archaeological site. It was a vital piece of infrastructure for tourism, primarily handling general aviation, air taxis, and small charter flights that brought tourists from larger nearby cities like Villahermosa and Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Its operations were crucial for the development of the local tourism industry before it was outgrown by the region's needs.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airport for civilian use. Its function has been completely and permanently superseded by the new Palenque International Airport (MMPQ). Given that the site is now an active and established military air base, a return to civil aviation is highly improbable.