Aldora Airport

The closure was primarily due to economic and operational obsolescence. The development and modernization of two larger, more capable airports in the region—Capitán FAP Guillermo Concha Iberico International Airport (IATA: PIU) in Piura (approx. 50 km away) and Capitán FAP Víctor Montes Arias International Airport (IATA: TYL) in Talara (approx. 60 km away)—rendered the small Paita airstrip redundant. These larger airports could handle the commercial passenger and cargo traffic for the region more effectively. Furthermore, the urban and industrial growth of Paita led to encroachment on the airfield, making its operation impractical and unsafe.

The site is completely abandoned as an aviation facility. The asphalt runway is still clearly visible from satellite view but is in a severe state of disrepair. It is cracked, faded, and bisected by several dirt tracks and roads. The southern portion of the former runway area appears to be used as a storage yard for vehicles and industrial equipment. The land surrounding the old airstrip has been encroached upon by industrial development and informal housing, making the site unusable for its original purpose.

Aldora Airport, more commonly known as the Paita Airstrip ('Aeródromo de Paita'), was a local airfield serving the city of Paita, one of Peru's most important seaports. Its primary function was to support general aviation and logistical operations. It likely handled small charter flights, air taxis, and private aircraft supporting the region's key industries, including commercial fishing, port logistics, and potentially oil and gas exploration. Given its close proximity to the Paita Naval Base ('Estación Naval de Paita'), it may have also been used for military liaison and light transport flights. It was never a hub for major scheduled commercial airlines.

There are no prospects for reopening Aldora Airport. The site is too small, degraded, and hemmed in by development to meet modern aviation standards. However, there is significant and ongoing interest from local business leaders and government officials in building a *new*, modern airport in the Paita area. The proposals focus on creating a dedicated cargo airport to directly export high-value agricultural products (such as mangoes, grapes, and blueberries) from the region, bypassing the need to truck them to airports in Piura or Lima. These plans call for a new facility at a different location and do not involve the rehabilitation of the old Aldora site.