Legnica Airport

The airport's closure was a direct result of major geopolitical changes at the end of the Cold War. The primary reason was the withdrawal of the Soviet Army's Northern Group of Forces from Poland. The airport was a military air base and its sole operator was the Soviet Air Force. After the last Russian troops departed in September 1993, the base was handed over to the Polish authorities. It was not converted to a civilian airport due to the high costs of modernization, required environmental cleanup, and its close proximity to the larger, established Wrocław–Copernicus Airport (EPWR), which made it economically unviable.

The site of the former airport has been completely redeveloped and no longer functions as an airfield. The area is now a major part of the Legnica Special Economic Zone (LSSE). The runways, taxiways, and most of the military infrastructure have been demolished or built over to make way for a large industrial and commercial park. The land is occupied by numerous factories, logistics centers, and warehouses for international companies, particularly in the automotive and manufacturing sectors. While some former military buildings or hangars may have been repurposed on the periphery, the core airfield is gone, replaced by new roads and industrial facilities.

Legnica Airport has significant military history dating back to World War II. It was originally built by the German Luftwaffe before 1939 and known as Fliegerhorst Liegnitz. After the war, it was taken over by the Soviet Union and became one of the most important Soviet air bases in the Eastern Bloc. It served as the headquarters for the 4th Air Army of the Soviet Air Forces. The base was a key strategic asset for the Warsaw Pact, housing various tactical fighter and fighter-bomber regiments over the decades, including units flying aircraft such as the MiG-23, MiG-29, and Su-24. The city of Legnica itself was the headquarters for the entire Northern Group of Forces and was often nicknamed 'Little Moscow' due to the massive Soviet military presence.

There are no current or foreseeable prospects for reopening the site as an airport. In the years immediately following the Soviet withdrawal, there were discussions and some initial plans to convert the facility into a civilian passenger or cargo airport. However, these plans were abandoned due to the prohibitive costs and the strong competitive position of Wrocław Airport. The extensive and successful industrial development of the site since the late 1990s has made any future reactivation as an airport practically impossible, as it would require the demolition of a thriving economic zone.