San Juan de la Costa Airstrip

The closure was due to economic reasons. The airstrip was a private facility built exclusively to support the large San Juan de la Costa phosphate mine, operated by the state-owned company Roca Fosfórica Mexicana (ROFOMEX). When the mine faced significant financial difficulties and suspended its operations around 2001, the airstrip lost its sole purpose and was subsequently abandoned.

The site is abandoned and in a state of disrepair. Satellite imagery confirms the paved runway still exists but is unmaintained, with faded markings and vegetation encroachment. The adjacent mining facilities and port infrastructure are also largely dormant. The airstrip is not used for any aviation activities and is considered a relic of the mine's operational past.

San Juan de la Costa Airstrip was a critical piece of private infrastructure for one of Baja California Sur's most significant industrial projects from the late 1970s to the late 1990s. It was not a public airport. Its primary function was to provide logistical support for the remote phosphate mine. Operations included transporting company executives, engineers, specialized personnel, and high-value, time-sensitive cargo and equipment between La Paz, other parts of Mexico, and the mining complex. It was essential for the efficient management and operation of the mine before its economic decline.

There are no current official plans to reopen the airstrip. Any potential for reopening is entirely contingent on the full-scale reactivation of the San Juan de la Costa phosphate mine. While various companies have explored restarting mining operations over the years, these efforts have faced significant financial and environmental challenges, including strong local opposition. If the mine were to be fully re-established, the new operators might invest in refurbishing the airstrip. However, given the current circumstances, the prospects for reopening are considered very low.