La Iglesia Airport

The primary reason for closure was economic non-viability and declining demand. As a small, unpaved airstrip serving a remote municipality, its operational and maintenance costs likely became unsustainable for the low volume of traffic it handled. The gradual improvement of ground transportation, such as regional highways, reduced the necessity for short-haul air travel for both passengers and cargo, leading to its eventual abandonment.

The site is currently abandoned and non-operational for any form of aviation. Satellite imagery confirms that the physical runway is still clearly identifiable as a cleared strip of land. However, it is completely unmaintained, with a degraded surface, encroaching vegetation, and visible tire tracks indicating it is used informally as a local road or track by ground vehicles. There is no infrastructure, fencing, or any sign of aviation activity.

La Iglesia Airport served as a critical transportation link for the remote municipality of Sahuaripa, which is situated in the mountainous Sierra Madre Occidental region of Sonora. When active, it primarily handled general aviation, air taxi services, and charter flights. Its operations were essential for:
- **Connectivity:** Connecting Sahuaripa to larger economic centers like Hermosillo for business and passenger transport.
- **Emergency Services:** Facilitating medical evacuations (MEDEVAC) from a region with limited advanced medical facilities.
- **Industrial Support:** Supporting local industries, particularly mining and large-scale ranching, by enabling the transport of personnel, urgent supplies, and high-value products.
Operations were conducted by small, propeller-driven aircraft (like Cessna or Piper models) capable of utilizing a short, unpaved runway under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).

There are no known official plans, government initiatives, or private sector proposals to reopen or redevelop La Iglesia Airport. The economic case for rehabilitating the runway and associated facilities to meet modern safety standards is considered extremely weak given the small local population and the existence of adequate ground transportation. Therefore, the prospects for the airport reopening in the foreseeable future are virtually non-existent.