Manuel Ojinaga Airport

The primary reason for the closure was military conversion. The airport was underutilized and not economically self-sustaining as a civilian airfield. The Mexican Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) identified the strategic location on the U.S.-Mexico border as an ideal site for a new military installation to combat organized crime and enhance regional security. The decision was made to cede the federal land to SEDENA for this purpose.

The site of the former airport is now a fully operational military base. In February 2018, SEDENA officially inaugurated the barracks for the 7th Motorized Cavalry Regiment on the property. The former runway, taxiways, and any remaining airport infrastructure have been completely removed or integrated into the military installation. Satellite imagery clearly shows the military barracks, vehicle depots, and training grounds where the airstrip once was.

Manuel Ojinaga Airport was a small, regional airfield primarily serving general aviation. Its significance stemmed from its location in a relatively isolated border region. When active, it handled:
- **General Aviation:** Private flights for business, agriculture, and personal travel.
- **Cross-Border Traffic:** It facilitated air travel to and from the United States, working in tandem with the nearby Presidio Lely International Airport (KPRS) in Presidio, Texas. Business owners and ranchers frequently used these airports for cross-border operations.
- **Government and Law Enforcement:** Due to its strategic border location, the airstrip was likely used intermittently by Mexican government agencies for law enforcement and administrative purposes.
- **Air Taxi Services:** Limited air taxi or charter flights connecting Ojinaga to larger cities in Chihuahua, such as Chihuahua City or Ciudad Juárez.
It was never a commercial airport with scheduled passenger service from major airlines.

There are zero prospects for reopening the airport at its original location. The land has been permanently and strategically repurposed by the Mexican military. Any future air service for the Ojinaga municipality would require the acquisition of new land and the construction of a completely new airport at a different site. While the need for regional air connectivity is sometimes discussed by local business leaders, there are no active, funded, or official plans to build a replacement airport.