Francisco Sarabia Airport

Military Conversion. The government of Mexico, through the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA), identified the airfield's strategic location as ideal for enhancing national security operations. Its position on the Pacific coast of Chiapas, near the border with Guatemala, is critical for aerial surveillance, interception of illicit trafficking (drugs and migrants), border security, and providing rapid support for disaster relief operations, such as in response to hurricanes.

The site is currently an active and fully operational military air base of the Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Mexicana). It is officially designated as Estación Aérea Militar No. 17 (E.A.M. No. 17). The base houses personnel and aircraft, including surveillance planes like the CASA C-295 and training/light attack aircraft like the Beechcraft T-6C+ Texan II. Its primary missions are surveillance, reconnaissance, transport, and supporting ground operations for the Mexican Army in the region.

Prior to its military conversion, the airfield, often referred to as Pijijiapan Airstrip (Aeródromo de Pijijiapan), served as a regional civil airport. Its operations were modest, primarily handling general aviation, air taxi services, government flights, and emergency medical evacuations. It was a vital piece of infrastructure for connecting the Costa de Chiapas region, which was historically more isolated. It did not handle major commercial airline traffic but was an important local and regional transportation link. The name 'Francisco Sarabia Airport' is often erroneously associated with this location due to data in some unofficial aviation databases; the major airport with that name is in Torreón, Coahuila (TRC/MMTC).

Effectively zero. Given its current role as a strategic and relatively new military installation integral to Mexico's southern border security strategy, there are no known plans, discussions, or prospects for decommissioning the base or reopening it to civilian air traffic. Its military function is considered a national security priority.