La Colorada Airport

La Colorada, MX 🇲🇽 Closed Airport

ICAO

MX-2368

IATA

-

Elevation

1269 ft

Region

MX-SON

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 28.8145° N, -110.58821° E

Continent: NA

Type: Closed Airport

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

External Links

Nearby Points of Interest

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Airport Information

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 26, 2025
Closure Date

Approximately 2015-2017. There was no formal, publicly announced closure date. Analysis of historical satellite imagery shows the airstrip was clear and appeared active until around 2015. By 2017-2018, significant encroachment from the adjacent mine's operations, including large stockpiles of ore and waste rock, rendered the runway unusable for aviation.

Reason for Closure

Operational repurposing and encroachment by mining activities. The airport was a private airstrip serving the La Colorada gold mine. As the open-pit mine expanded, its operational footprint, including large heaps and haul roads, directly conflicted with the runway's safety and operational areas. The land became more valuable for mining support activities than for aviation, leading to the airstrip being absorbed into the mine's industrial site.

Current Status

The site is inactive as an airport and has been repurposed for mining support. The original runway is still visible on satellite imagery but is in a severe state of disrepair. It is obstructed by large piles of mining materials and is used by heavy machinery as a haul road and staging area. It is completely non-operational and unsafe for any aircraft.

Historical Significance

The airport's significance was entirely logistical and tied to the Mina de la Colorada, a major gold and silver mine. When active, it served as a private air facility for the mine's owner (Argonaut Gold). Operations typically included:
- **Executive & Personnel Transport:** Flying in executives, engineers, geologists, and other key personnel, often from the regional hub in Hermosillo.
- **Emergency Services:** Facilitating rapid medical evacuations for injured workers from a remote industrial site.
- **High-Value Cargo:** Potentially used for the secure transport of high-value products like gold doré bars, bypassing risks associated with ground transportation.
- **Critical Supplies:** Transporting urgent, lightweight spare parts for essential mining equipment to minimize operational downtime.
The airport handled small general aviation aircraft, likely single or twin-engine piston and turboprop models capable of operating from a short, paved strip.

Reopening Prospects

Extremely low to none. The land has been fully integrated into the La Colorada mine's operational plan. Reopening the airport would require massive investment to clear obstructions, relocate significant mining infrastructure, and completely rebuild the runway. The mine's operator has likely adapted its logistics to rely on ground transport and the nearby Hermosillo International Airport (MMHO), making the revival of a private airstrip economically unviable.

Nearby Airports

El Aigame Airport
MX-2367
La Colorada, MX
Closed Airport
~17 km away
La Gloria Airport
MX-1748
La Colorada, MX
Small Airport
~24 km away
Represito de Lujan Airport
MX-1777
La Colorada, MX
Closed Airport
~28 km away
El Mezquite Airport
MX-2207
La Colorada, MX
Small Airport
~29 km away
El Socorro Airstrip
MX-1528
Mazatán, MX
Closed Airport
~34 km away
Cobachi Airport
MX-2206
La Colorada, MX
Small Airport
~35 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

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