Málaga Airport in Colombia Is Planned to Be Modernized by 2027

The Jerónimo de Aguayo Airport in Málaga, the center of Colombia's García Rovira province, was an active transportation alternative with regular flights to Bucaramanga 30 years ago. However, over the years, civilian flights decreased, and airport operations were limited only to emergency missions and visits by official authorities. Legal processes were initiated to reopen the facility, which fell into decline due to lack of maintenance and administrative neglect.

In October 2023, the use of the runway was suspended due to security concerns after footage emerged of a plane nearly hitting a person trespassing on the runway. Additionally, the runway and control hut frequently remaining underwater due to an inadequate drainage system is among the chronic problems negatively affecting the airport's operations. As part of a public lawsuit filed by a lawyer to resolve these issues, the Danıştay ruled that the necessary feasibility studies and arrangements must be made to reopen the facility.

The modernization project consists of two phases: The first phase aims to make the runway safe and reopen it for service, while the second phase plans the construction of a control tower, a passenger waiting lounge, and an underpass to facilitate transit between settlements. The Santander Governorate and the Civil Aviation Authority allocated a budget of 4.308 million Colombian pesos for runway maintenance and the repair of drainage channels. While it will be determined in September whether the project will receive support from the central government, the airport is aimed to be fully modernized by 2027.