Old Matamoros Airport

The airport was closed and relocated due to a combination of urban encroachment and the need for a more modern facility. As the city of Matamoros expanded, the airport became surrounded by urban development, which severely limited its ability to expand its runways and facilities. This also created increasing noise and safety concerns for the surrounding neighborhoods. The new airport was constructed further from the city center with a longer runway and superior infrastructure to accommodate the larger jet aircraft that were becoming standard in the 1960s and to handle future growth in passenger and cargo traffic.

The site has been completely redeveloped and no longer exists as an airfield. The land is now occupied by the 'Parque Olímpico Cultura y Conocimiento' (Olympic Park of Culture and Knowledge). This is a large, multi-purpose public complex that includes sports facilities (an Olympic swimming pool, athletic stadium, and courts), cultural centers, extensive green spaces, and the campus for the Universidad Tecnológica de Matamoros (UTM). While all airport infrastructure like hangars and terminals has been demolished, the distinct 'X' shape of the former intersecting runways is still clearly visible in the layout of the park's main roads and pathways.

The Old Matamoros Airport holds significant historical importance in North American aviation. It was a pioneering international airport and a crucial node in the early development of air travel between the United States and Mexico. Its most notable event occurred on February 4, 1929, when Charles Lindbergh, serving as a technical advisor for Pan American Airways (Pan Am), landed there to inaugurate the first international air mail service connecting Mexico City, Tampico, and Brownsville, Texas. This event established Matamoros as a key gateway. Throughout its years of operation, the airport was served by major airlines including Pan American Airways and Mexicana de Aviación (CMA). It handled a mix of international and domestic passenger flights, airmail, general aviation, and likely some military operations given its strategic location on the U.S.-Mexico border.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The site has been permanently and fully repurposed for public, recreational, and educational use. The city of Matamoros is adequately served by the current General Servando Canales International Airport (MMMA), making the redevelopment of the old site irreversible and a new airport at this location unnecessary.