El Chalet Airstrip

The primary reason for closure was economic and logistical redundancy. El Chalet was a basic, unpaved airstrip likely built and operated by the mining company Grupo México for its La Caridad mine. The company's air transport needs were consolidated to the nearby, superior Nacozari Airport (ICAO: MMNZ), which features a longer, paved runway and better facilities capable of handling larger aircraft. Maintaining two airstrips in close proximity was inefficient, leading to the abandonment of the older, less capable El Chalet strip.

The site is currently an abandoned and derelict airstrip. The original dirt/gravel runway is still clearly visible from satellite view, but it is in a state of disrepair. The surface is heavily eroded, uneven, and is being slowly reclaimed by the surrounding Sonoran Desert vegetation. There are no buildings or infrastructure remaining, and the land appears to be completely unused. It remains part of the vast property holdings of the La Caridad mine.

El Chalet Airstrip's significance is directly tied to the development and operation of the massive La Caridad copper mine, a cornerstone of Nacozari de García's economy. In the mine's earlier years, the airstrip served as a critical private logistical link to the outside world. It handled general aviation traffic, primarily small single- and twin-engine propeller aircraft. These planes were used to transport mining executives, engineers, essential personnel, and high-priority, lightweight cargo and spare parts, facilitating the management and operation of the remote industrial site.

The prospects for reopening El Chalet Airstrip are virtually non-existent. Its function has been entirely and permanently superseded by the active Nacozari Airport (MMNZ), which adequately serves the needs of both the mining company and the local community. There is no economic, logistical, or strategic incentive for Grupo México or any government body to invest the significant capital required to restore and certify a redundant, primitive airstrip.