Satipo Airport

The primary reason was urban encroachment and safety concerns. The city of Satipo grew rapidly around the airfield, which was located very close to the urban center. This expansion made takeoffs and landings increasingly dangerous for both aircraft and residents. The runway was short, unpaved, and frequently had issues with people and animals crossing it, rendering it unsuitable for safe and reliable modern air operations. The closure was a planned decision to prioritize urban development and public safety over maintaining an obsolete and hazardous airfield.

The airport is permanently closed and the site has been completely redeveloped. The former runway and airport grounds are now occupied by major public infrastructure. The most prominent structure is the new and modern Hospital 'Manuel Higa Arakaki' of Satipo, which was built directly on the land. Other sections of the former airfield have been repurposed for an interprovincial bus terminal ('Terminal Terrestre'), public parks, and other urban facilities. No trace of the operational runway remains.

The airport, which also used the ICAO code SPSO, was a vital lifeline for Satipo and the surrounding Central Jungle (Selva Central) region for many decades. Due to difficult and often unreliable road connections, the airport provided a critical link for:
- **Passenger Transport:** Connecting residents to larger cities like Lima, often via regional hubs.
- **Cargo & Economy:** Facilitating the transport of essential goods into the region and enabling the export of local agricultural products, such as coffee and tropical fruits.
- **Government & Military Operations:** It played a crucial strategic role for the Peruvian military and police, especially during Peru's internal conflict with the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) in the 1980s and 1990s, allowing for the rapid deployment of personnel and supplies.
Operations were typically handled by smaller regional carriers (like the former TANS Perú) using STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft suited for short, unpaved runways, such as the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and Pilatus PC-6 Porter.

Reopening the original airport at -11.2625, -74.647778 is impossible due to the extensive construction on the site. However, there is a long-standing and active project to construct a new, modern airport for the Satipo province in a different, more suitable location outside the city. This new airport is considered a high-priority project by regional authorities to boost tourism, improve connectivity, and facilitate agricultural exports on a larger scale. Despite numerous feasibility studies, land acquisitions, and political announcements over the years, the project has faced significant delays due to bureaucratic, political, and funding challenges. It remains a key objective for regional development but has not yet broken ground.