José María Pino Suárez Airport

While no official reason has been published, the closure is widely believed to be part of a broader Mexican government initiative during the mid-to-late 2000s to control and shut down unsupervised rural airstrips. These small airfields were often exploited by cartels for illegal drug trafficking. The closure of MX-1686 aligns with the timing and pattern of similar airfield closures across Mexico aimed at enhancing national security. Secondary factors likely included economic non-viability and a lack of sustained demand for local air services.

The airport is currently abandoned and derelict. Satellite imagery confirms the single asphalt runway remains visible but is in a state of severe disrepair. It is cracked, weathered, and overgrown with vegetation, making it completely unusable for any aviation purposes. There are no remaining buildings, hangars, or airport infrastructure on the site. The land is unused and appears to have been reclaimed by the surrounding natural environment. There is no evidence of it being repurposed for other activities.

José María Pino Suárez Airport was a small, local airfield serving the municipality of Tomatlán in the state of Jalisco. Its significance was primarily regional. When active, it handled general aviation and private charter flights. Operations likely included:
- **Agricultural Aviation:** Supporting the local farming industry in the Tomatlán River valley with services like crop dusting.
- **Air Taxi & Private Transport:** Providing a connection point for local business owners, landowners, and tourists to larger hubs like Puerto Vallarta or Guadalajara.
- **Logistical Support:** Facilitating the transport of personnel and light cargo to this relatively remote coastal region before ground infrastructure was fully developed.
The airport never served as a commercial hub for major airlines and did not have an IATA code, indicating it was not part of the scheduled passenger network. Its runway, approximately 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) long, was suitable for light to medium-sized propeller aircraft.

There are no known or published plans to reopen or redevelop the José María Pino Suárez Airport. The prospects for its reopening are considered extremely low to non-existent for several reasons:
1. **Proximity to Major Airports:** The region is served by the large Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (MMPR) in Puerto Vallarta, approximately 100 km to the north.
2. **New Regional Airport:** The state and federal governments have focused on the development of the new Costalegre Airport (MMCL / Chalacatepec Airport), also located within the Tomatlán municipality, which is designed to serve the high-end tourism market of the Costalegre coast. This new, modern facility makes the small, outdated Pino Suárez airstrip redundant.
3. **Lack of Economic Driver:** There is no significant economic or logistical demand that would justify the substantial investment required to rebuild and operate the old airfield.