Old Bosaso Airport

The airport was permanently closed because it was replaced by the new, modern Bender Qassim International Airport. The old airport's infrastructure was obsolete and inadequate for the needs of the growing city. Key reasons for its replacement include: a short, unpaved gravel runway that limited the size and type of aircraft; its close proximity to the expanding city center, which posed significant safety risks; and its inability to handle the increasing volume of passenger and cargo traffic required for Puntland's commercial capital.

The site of the former airport is no longer used for any aviation activities. The land has been repurposed and is now reportedly used as a fortified base for local security forces, most notably the Puntland Security Force (PSF). Satellite imagery confirms the presence of new buildings, walls, and security infrastructure built directly on the former runway and apron areas, indicating a conversion to a military or security compound.

For decades, the Old Bosaso Airport was the sole air link to Bosaso, a major port and the economic hub of the Puntland state of Somalia. It played a crucial role in connecting the region to other parts of Somalia and the world. Its operations were vital for business travel, domestic passenger services, and the transport of high-value, time-sensitive cargo like khat. Furthermore, it was an essential logistical base for international humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) and the World Food Programme (WFP), which used the airstrip to deliver aid and transport personnel to a region frequently affected by drought and conflict. Due to its unpaved surface, it primarily handled smaller, rugged aircraft such as the Cessna Caravan, Dornier 228, and various Antonov models.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Old Bosaso Airport. The existence of the fully operational and far superior Bender Qassim International Airport makes the old facility redundant. The land it occupied is valuable due to its central location and has already been reallocated for security purposes, making a return to aviation use highly improbable.