Aeródromo de San Cristóbal de las Casas

The closure was a strategic decision based on multiple factors:
1. **Replacement:** The primary reason was its replacement by the modern Ángel Albino Corzo International Airport (TGZ), which could handle larger jet aircraft (like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737) and a much higher volume of passengers.
2. **Operational & Safety Limitations:** The old airfield had a relatively short runway and was surrounded by high mountainous terrain, making approaches and departures, especially in adverse weather, challenging and unsafe for larger commercial aircraft.
3. **Urban Encroachment:** The city of San Cristóbal had grown around the airport, preventing any possibility of runway extension or facility expansion. This proximity also posed safety and noise concerns for the surrounding residential areas.
4. **Economic Viability:** Consolidating air traffic for the central Chiapas region into a single, capable airport (TGZ) was more economically efficient for airlines and the government.

The airport is permanently closed and has been completely decommissioned. The land has been repurposed and integrated into the urban landscape of San Cristóbal de las Casas. A large portion of the former airport grounds, including parts of the old runway, has been converted into public recreational areas, most notably the 'Parque de Convivencia Infantil y Familiar' and the 'Unidad Deportiva' (sports complex). Other sections have been used for housing and commercial development. While the faint outline of the runway is still visible from satellite imagery, the site is no longer a functional aviation facility.

For several decades, the Aeródromo de San Cristóbal was the main air link to this important colonial city and the surrounding Chiapas highlands (Los Altos). It was vital for the development of tourism in the region. The airport primarily handled regional and domestic flights operated by smaller, turboprop aircraft from airlines such as Aerocaribe (a former Mexicana subsidiary) using planes like the Fokker F27 and ATR 42. It also played a significant strategic role during the Zapatista (EZLN) uprising that began in January 1994, when the Mexican military used the airport as a key logistical hub to transport troops, equipment, and supplies into the conflict zone. In addition to commercial and military operations, it served general aviation and air taxi services, which were crucial for transportation in the mountainous state.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The fundamental reasons for its closure—safety issues due to terrain, urban encroachment, and its replacement by a superior facility—still stand and are irreversible. The land has been permanently redeveloped, making any potential reactivation logistically impossible and financially prohibitive. The region's air transportation needs are fully and more effectively met by the Ángel Albino Corzo International Airport (TGZ), which is approximately a 60-90 minute drive from San Cristóbal.