Permanently Closed Airports

Airports close for many reasons — replaced by newer facilities, rendered obsolete by infrastructure changes, or affected by conflict. These airports once handled significant passenger traffic before permanently ceasing operations.

1
Berlin-Tegel Otto Lilienthal Airport Closed
Berlin, Germany
24.2M
peak 2019

Closed in November 2020 after decades of delays building its replacement. All operations moved to the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), ending 72 years of service as West Berlin's primary airport.

2
Athens Hellenikon International Airport Closed
Athens, Greece
13.3M
peak 2000

Closed in March 2001 when Athens' new Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport opened ahead of the 2004 Olympics. The former airport site was redeveloped into the Hellinikon Metropolitan Park.

3
Siem Reap International Airport Closed
Siem Reap, Cambodia
4.5M
peak 2018

Closed in October 2023 when the new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport opened 40 km east of the city. The old airport near the Angkor Wat temples was retired due to expansion limitations.

4
Zhanjiang Xintang Airport Closed
Zhanjiang (Xiashan), China
3.0M
peak 2019

Closed in March 2022 when operations transferred to the new Zhanjiang Wuchuan Airport, built to accommodate growing demand in western Guangdong Province.

5
El Nuzha Airport Closed
Alexandria, Egypt
2.8M
peak 2015

Closed after Borg El Arab Airport, located 25 km southwest of Alexandria, took over as the city's primary airport. El Nouzha was constrained by its urban location.

6
Rostov-on-Don Airport Closed
Rostov-on-Don, Russia
2.8M
peak 2017

Closed in December 2017 when the new Platov International Airport opened 30 km northeast of the city, built to serve the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

7
Ishigaki Airport Closed
Ishigaki, Japan
2.6M
peak 2024

Closed in March 2013 when the new Painushima Ishigaki Airport opened nearby with a longer runway capable of handling larger aircraft for this popular Okinawan resort island.

8
Malaybalay Airport Closed
Malaybalay City, Philippines
2.3M
peak 2019

Closed as a commercial airport. Passenger services relocated to other facilities in the Bukidnon Province region of Mindanao.

9
Jefman Airport Closed
Jefman, Indonesia
1.6M
peak 2018

Closed when operations transferred to the new Domine Eduard Osok Airport (DEO) in Sorong, Papua Barat, which offered improved facilities and runway capacity.

10
Eilat Airport Closed
Eilat, Israel
1.5M
peak 2013

Closed in March 2019 when Ramon Airport opened 18 km north of Eilat, replacing both Eilat Airport and nearby Ovda Airport with a modern facility serving Israel's Red Sea resort city.

11
Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport Closed
Doncaster, United Kingdom
1.4M
peak 2019
12
Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport Closed
Doncaster, United Kingdom
1.4M
peak 2019
13
Tagbilaran Airport Closed
Tagbilaran City, Philippines
790K
peak 2013
14
Yan'an Ershilipu Airport Closed
Yan'an (Baota), China
686K
peak 2019
15
Karlsruhe-Forchheim Airport Closed
Rheinstetten, Germany
686K
peak 2005
16
Legazpi City International Airport Closed
Legazpi City, Philippines
681K
peak 2019
17
Panama City-Bay Co International Airport Closed
Panama City, United States
648K
peak 2010
18
Saratov Central Airport Closed
, Russia
482K
peak 2017
19
Scatsta Airport Closed
Shetland Islands, United Kingdom
304K
peak 2012
20
Nouakchott International Airport Closed
Nouakchott, Mauritania
301K
peak 2015