7 Abandoned Airports Around the World and the Stories Behind Them
Friday, 24 Oct 2025
Airports are built to handle tens of thousands, often hundreds of thousands, of people a day, so when such a facility falls out of use it offers a powerful story. Whether through war, urban change, economics or infrastructure evolution, it can make you wonder what happened to these airports?
We’ve picked out 7 airports globally that once were super busy and are now in various states of abandonment or repurposing. If you’re planning to move items internationally, check out all the destinations we ship to!
Kai Tak Airport - Hong Kong
Kai Tak Airport served Hong Kong from 1925 until 6 July 1998. At its busiest peak, Kai Tak saw nearly 30 million passengers a year and more than 1.5 million tonnes of goods passing through its runways. The reason it became abandoned is that the site was simply too constrained, located in dense Kowloon City surrounded by mountain ridges and high-rises, making expansion impossible. The move to the new airport at Chek Lap Kok allowed Hong Kong to grow further. Today the site remains a fascinating urban development area, where parts of the old runway and terminal are still referenced.
Nicosia International Airport - Cyprus
Nicosia International Airport, located about 8 km west of the city, closed to commercial traffic following the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Reuters described it as “frozen in time” with no planes having left or arrived since 1974. The airport today lies within the UN Buffer Zone and remains off-limits to the public, standing as a historical monument and reminder of conflict.
Berlin Tempelhof Airport - Germany
Tempelhof’s long history includes being a key site in the Berlin Airlift of 1948–49. It closed as an airport in October 2008. At one point the terminal and hangar complex covered about 300,000 m², and the curved roof hangars were huge engineering feats. Post-closure its vast open space has been turned into a public park and event venue, with the hangars adapted for new uses.
Ciudad Real Central Airport - Spain
This airport opened in 2009 in Spain’s La Mancha region with huge ambition, designed to serve up to 10 million passengers a year. It was effectively abandoned by 2012 after only a few years of operation due to financial issues and its remote location. It stands as a reminder that even modern infrastructure can fail when market dynamics change.
Ellinikon International Airport - Greece
The airport operated as Athens’ main international gateway until 2001. After its closure, it hosted parts of the 2004 Olympics, and large-scale redevelopment projects are now transforming it into a modern coastal park and residential district.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport - United Kingdom
This UK airport, formerly known as Robin Hood Airport, was located on the former RAF Finningley base. It officially closed in 2022, showing that even relatively modern and local airports can be withdrawn from service.
Montréal Mirabel International Airport - Canada
Mirabel opened in 1975 as a major international airport for Montréal but was gradually phased out of passenger service and largely abandoned. The terminal has been repurposed for manufacturing and cargo, but it remains a striking example of a large-scale airport rendered obsolete.
Why these stories matter for travel, logistics and shipping
Abandoned airports highlight how transportation infrastructure evolves. They remind us that routes, hubs and connections can shift dramatically over time. For anyone planning an international move or extended travel, having a reliable way to get your belongings where they need to go can make all the difference.
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Final thoughts
Abandoned airports are quiet monuments to change. They show how even the largest pieces of infrastructure can be overtaken by shifting needs and time. For anyone moving countries, shipping items ahead of time, or planning long-term travel, the same principle holds true: infrastructure may shift, routes might alter, but good planning and flexible services help you stay ahead.