Jeddah International Airport (closed 1981)

Jeddah International Airport, colloquially referred to as Abbas Ibn Firnas Airport or Kandara Airport (IATA: XZF, ICAO: OEJD) was a major international airport in Saudi Arabia located between the neighbourhoods of Al-Kandara and Al-Sharafiya, Jeddah. It was the original airport serving the cities Jeddah and Mecca in the kingdom before the construction of King Abdulaziz International Airport.

The airport was the first in the kingdom, operating as a major gateway into Mecca, mainly serving pilgrims during Haji seasons, while also serving scheduled regular flights. Jeddah Air Base shared runways with the airport, and served as a primary Royal Saudi Air Force base.

In May 1945, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gifted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a Douglas DC-3, which later landed on the airstrip.^[1] Following the donation, several earthen airstrips were established around Saudi Arabia. These airstrips were constructed in Jeddah, Riyadh, Dhahran and Hawiyah in Taif, Hofuf, Buraidah, Jizan, Al-Kharj and Afif. This event marked the first civil aviation event in Saudi Arabia.^[2] An important moment was marked, when in June 1945, the first international flight was made from Jeddah to Damascus. On 31 July, 1945, British Overseas Airways Corporation included Jeddah along its route, and is among the first airlines to serve the airport. It provided two weekly services to various destinations in Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kamaran in Yemen using the Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar.^[3] In September 1945, Saudi Arabian Airlines (now known as Saudia) was established, and by 1946, became a fully government agency of the Ministry of Defense.^[4] Its operating base was located in Jeddah Airport. Throughout the 1940s, Jeddah Airport had minimal facilities; only served by a basic sand-packed strip where camels commonly intruded onto the runway, and no airport buildings existed at the time.^[5] There were no regular passenger services, and flights would have to be manually arranged. The airport saw occasional visits by British aircraft from Aden and aircraft from the United States carrying hitchhiking passengers.^[6] During this time, the airport mainly served diplomatic missions from government officials and the Royal family. The airline also flew mail between Jeddah, Taif and Riyadh.^[7] In 1947, an airport business school was opened.^[8]

By the 1950s, air travel to Mecca quickly became popular, because of how it was time sufficient and required less walking. On average, Jeddah Airport would see 250,000 pilgrims commute through the airport, and the usage of ox-carts, walking, and camels quickly loss popularity.^[9] On October 14, 1952, Jeddah Airport and its facilities was officially inaugurated and opened under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud Bin Abdulaziz.^[10] By 6 November, 1952, the airport had a modest amount of maintenance facilities. It had a maintenance records office that kept aircraft reports and maintenance logs under the supervision of the Head of Maintenance, operations & flight planning section which sent telegrams regarding airspace and recorded aircraft movements, and a fire department section equipped witn two fire engines and firefighting equipent. In November 1952, airport fire personnel had quickly extinguished a house fire near the airport. The airport also consisted of many workshops, which included an engine overhaul workshop where aircraft engines were inspected, tested and refitted after returning from overhaul in England and Scotland, electrical workshop supervised by foreign technical specialists trained in Dhahran and the United States and Egyptian and Saudi mechanics, metal workshop responsible for manufacturing aircraft metal components such as copper parts and also repairing engine covers, propeller workshop which handled reinstallation of propellers, and a fabric workshop responsinle for fabric-covered and interior aircraft components. Other workshops included a paint workshop responsible for overhauling aircraft instruments and gauges supervised by a Norwegian specialist, assisted by Egyptian and Saudi mechanics and a carpentry workshop for interior woodwork. Hangar No. 2 was also fitted with a hydraulic system, and Cessna aircraft were lifted for inspection and testing.^[11]

In 1953, the first civilian air traffic control tower in the country was built.^[1] In 1955, Saudi Arabian Airlines opened additional maintenance workshops in the airport.^[12] By 1958, the airport operated two asphalt runways, with the main runway measuring 3048 meters long and 45.7 meters wide capable handling up to 120,000 lbs. A smaller crosswind runway measured 1,828 meters long and also 45.7 meters wide. The taxiways and apron were 100% useable. Accommodated with the airport were facilities that included four steel hangars, maintenance workshops, and a fuel storage capacity of approximately 65,400 gallons of Avgas. In the event of an emergency that involved the United States, American McDonnell F-101 Voodoo fighter jets and the Martin B-57C Canberra were to operate from the airport. Additionally, the Douglas C-54 Skymaster and Douglas C-124 Globemaster II aircraft would also be used for military cargo operations.^[13]

Before the 1950s, arriving Hajj pilgrims often stayed in rental residential houses. In 1950, a 5,000 person facility near the seaport was built, and in 1953-54, a 2,000 person facility was constructed south of the city. In 1958, the Al Ain Azizia administration rushed the construction of the third city, which was made to accommodate the rising number of African hajj pilgrims. The third city was located in the airport, beside the air traffic control tower and hangars. Following the decision, five buildings with three floors at an estimated area of 9,652 square metres were built, which could accommodate 2,000 pilgrims. This project also included the construction of Pilgrim's Town Square, the entrance to the accommodations and airport. From day and night, hundreds of pilgrims of diverse ethnicities passed through these accommodations.^[14]

The dormitories housed 10-36 people per room, accommodated with communal bathrooms. These buildings were designed to minimize social distinctions, and open-air latticework allowed airflow and sound circulation. Large undivided balconies were also built, which encouraged social interaction. There also was a simple, repetitive architecture which reflected the unity of the Haji, which emphasized the egalitarian spirit of pilgrimage. These pilgrims could stay days within the accommodations until departure to Mecca, which had offices for pilgrimage guides, health, and passport services. Shops, restaurants, banks, a mosque, and government agencies were also serviced within the compound.^[15]

Al-Kandara, where the airport was located, was considered the capital of Jeddah. It was a popular place to live, because of its proximity to the airport and a seaport. It also had various facilities like hospitals, administrations and accommodations.^[16] In early 1959, Saudi Arabian Airlines inaugurated a daily pressurized Convair-Liner shuttle between Jeddah and Riyadh. Later that year, the airline established its Aircraft Maintenance Department, which operated an engine maintenance center at the airport.^[17] Throughout the 1960s, the number of international pilgrims arriving by air instead of sea had significantly increased. For example, approximately 1,000 Indian pilgrims arrived annually to Jeddah by Air-India’s chartered flights, while around 14,500 still arrived by sea from Bombay. The chartering of these flights were managed by the Haj Committee, under the company Trade Wings.^[18] In the response to the growing need of sufficient infrastructure, the construction of the Al Hagon Bridge, part of the Jeddah Internal Ways Project was awarded to The Arab Contractors, Osman Ahmed Osman & Co. The bridge was completed in 1963 and linked Mecca to Jeddah Airport by a series of internal roads, having cost 10,500,000 million Saudi Arabian riyals.^[19] By 1964, the control tower had received significant upgrades with 2 floors, including additional tower height. Additionally, an asphalt runway was built parallel to 15/33, and was assigned 15R/33L.^[9] In 1968, heavy rainfall led to a flood in Jeddah, which came from valleys east from the city, damaging the walls of the airport.^[20]

By the 1970s, Jeddah International Airport controlled a flight information region. At the time, aircraft entering Saudi Arabian airspace would have to report their position to either two information regions, which were located at Jeddah and Dhahran. This information would be reported once every 30 minutes, which included nationality, flight registration, altitude, time at reported position, flying conditions, and ground speed, ensuring safe flights. Jeddah International Airport was also declared as a "customs aerodrome", which required aircraft to depart from the airport to fully leave the country. Foreign aircraft were also only allowed to arrive at the airport.^[7] In 1973, these international airlines served Jeddah International Airport: Air Algérie, Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, JAT Yugoslav Airlines, Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie (CSA), Ariana Afghan Airlines, Air Afrique, Air Guinée, Afghan Airlines, and Iraqi Airways.^[21] In the same year, the administration realized the numbers were increasing, so they rushed the construction of an additional 8 new buildings with an area of 65,935 square metres, able to accommodate 10,000 pilgrims in total. The construction also included an additional transit hall to the airport.^[14][4]

By the mid-1970s, the rapid growth in air transportation, especially with the increase of pilgrims and Umrah performers had exceeded the capacity of the airport. The logistical impact of the steadily multiplying influx of pilgrims became immense, as air traffic control, ramp space, and ground transportation were not adequately equipped and prepared for each period. Due to the city's encroachment, it was considered impossible to expand infrastructure.^[22] In 1974, as part of the government-led Airports Development Program, Saudi Arabian authorities selected contractors for a new airport north of Jeddah, which had more room for expansion. On 14 June, 1974, President Nixon arrived at the airport during a Middle East diplomatic mission.^[23] By 1975, the apron was extended, and the first approach radar was installed on the runways.^[1] In 1976, airborne pilgrims arrived in the airport at a rate of 400 flights a day from the usual 120 flights during the rest of the year. In the same year, Jeddah International Airport handled 361,891 Hajj pilgrims.^[24] Although airport and pilgrimage fees of the airport were levied, the Saudi government shifted towards prioritizing and encouraging pilgrimage traffic. This led to the abolishment of such fees in 1976, subsidizing airport operations and removing financial barriers for pilgrims.^[25]

In order to meet the demands, Jeddah International Airport was significantly expanded by authorities to cater the increasing traffic and Haji seasons. Subsequently, Lockheed Martin was awarded a US $650 million contract in 1976 for the installation of a new air traffic control system, which included navigation aids supplied by ITT Federal Electric, instrument landing systems installations by Standard Elektrik Lorenz AG, and high-frequency communications equipment by Rockwell Collins. In September 1976, International Aeradio was awarded a US $60 million contract for the construction of a Flight Operations Training Centre for Saudi Arabian Airlines based at Jeddah International Airport.^[22] Further improvements included the installation of large transient centers, from which pilgrims would be able to travel faster to Mecca from Jeddah. These facilties consisted of a new terminal, which had a Saudi Arabian Airlines ticket office, and two buildings for arrivals and departures completed by spring of 1978. This would serve the last three Hajj seasons. Following this, the old terminal was requisitioned into Hajj accommodations. In 1978, 36 airlines served Jeddah Airport.^[26][27] By 1978, Jeddah International Airport handled aircraft arriving at a rate of 17 aircraft an hour, which increased to 78 aircraft an hour during Hajj seasons.^[28]

In 1979, the third city was upgraded to accommodate 30,000 pilgrims arriving from the airport, including sped up arrival procedures and measures.^[14] An asphalt runway numbered 15L/33R was constructed to alleviate traffic on the two existing runways. Subsequently, the original 15/33 runway was merged within the apron. The airport was also expanded towards the Al-Sharafiya neighbourhood, with an additional eastern apron being built. Gradually, Jeddah International Airport became the busiest communications centre in the Middle East.^[29] On 16 January, 1979, the airport and the city faced 3 inches of rain in an hour, which led to flooding and minor disruptions. On 17 January, the weather report was canceled due to the weather conditions of the airport, and that forecasts were obtained through offices there.^[30] Air France had a facility at Jeddah International Airport for its international operations.^[31][32] On 12 April, 1979, the Flight Operations Training Centre was inaugurated in the Kandara district, based in the airport. It was operated under the Prince Sultan Aviation Academy. The school provided courses on telecommunications, radio navigation, radio and radar engineering, and airfield lighting. It had a capacity of 230 students to be trained in accordance to international standards at the time.^[22] The school was equipped with 4 simulators and 12 classrooms, training many of the airline's staff of the era.^[33][34] These infrastructure upgrades, which especially included the opening of a new runway and terminal, enabled Jeddah International Airport to handle a flight every three minutes with an almost-clear accident record by 1981.^[35]

Jeddah International Airport was located in the neighbourhood of Al-Kandara and Al-Sharafiya, close to the city center of Jeddah. This proximity hindered the airport's capabilities to expand infrastructure. Due to the airport's deficient capacity, it experienced heavy congestion during Hajj seasons peaking 600 aircraft movements daily by 1978. Additionally, with facilities at the airport incapable of handling cargo, it had to be brought ashore by helicopters.^[31][36]

Every year, Jeddah International Airport would have to prepare for the Hajj season, which saw a one-month increase of approximately 50,000 passengers per day. However, the airport’s facilities were far too small to accommodate the growing city’s needs and the Haji pilgrimage. Staffing were also inadequate for immigration and customs checks during the peak arrival times, especially in the 10 days before Hajj. The airport also had limited space to house the pilgrims awaiting transportation to Mecca, and many were elderly, non-Arabic-speaking, and inexperienced travelers, which caused delays and confusion in processing.^[27]

On 18 July, 1980, the King Abdulaziz University announced the construction of a new 800-bed hospital on the airport land to begin in 1985, expected to cost $845 million.^[37] On 1 April, 1981, King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) was inaugurated, and opened in 31 May, and Jeddah International Airport ceased commercial operations shortly thereafter. It received the ICAO code OEJN, which stood for “Jeddah New”. Additionally, a temporary transitional IATA code was assigned, being "XZF", while "JED" was adopted by KAIA. All operations were relocated to the airport, and the Aircraft Maintenance Department moved to the new airport's hangars and workshops.^[17] By 1982, operations and equipment were still being transferred to the new airport.^[38] The airport completed the transfer of equipment in 1983, 2 years after the inauguration of the new airport. The site of the former airport was to be redeveloped into housing.^[39][1]

Shortly after closure, a highway was quickly built across the former runways, with its tarmac laid through the old aircraft boneyard. Declassified satellite imagery dated to 1983 depicts that the runways were not demolished.^[40] According to Google Earth imagery from 2000, faded runway markings of runway 15R/33L remained. The markings showed the runway’s length was 9,843ft. Also, the original markings of runway 15/33, which by the time the airport closed was part of the apron, was also found.^[29]

In 2006, a proposal was made to construct an aviation museum in the former main headquarters building of the airport near the Al-Sharafiah district. The museum would chronicle the history of the Kingdom’s aviation, along with old photos, documents and models to display. On 7 February, 2006, the initiative was approved by Mayor Adel Faqeeh, and initial studies were completed. The area of the museum was to be fenced for construction. Before the planning of the museum, the former control tower was demolished, which could’ve been more authentic if preserved for the museum according to head of the General Administration of Tourism Sami Nawwar. However, a recreation of the control tower was to be built using the same architecture aspects according to the mayor.^[41]

According to Google Earth imagery from 2008-2009, Jeddah International Airport’s two original hangars, dating from the airport’s establishment had been demolished. There was a mass deportation center for overstaying pilgrims, which was located adjacent to the Haji accommodations. In 2014, it was moved to Shumaisi near Mecca and subsequently demolished. In the same year, the old Saudia ticket sales office was demolished, showing that the once busy past was gone.^[42] Currently on imagery dating 2024, only three hangars and smaller support facilities are still remaining, with all of the runways being demolished.^[43] King Khalid Road, the original airport road remains, along with another road called Al-Matar nearby the old airport, which was also used to access the airport. Majority of the eastern apron still exist but as a cricket ground. The southern parts of the main apron also survives as of 2025.^[44]

Located just outside of Jeddah International Airport was an aircraft boneyard, established shortly before the airport closed. Aircraft such as the Douglas A-26 Invader, North American T-28 Trojan, Douglas C-54 Skymaster and the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor have been decommissioned and dumped here.^[40] In 1953, ten Temco T-35 Buckaroos armed with rockets and machine guns were delivered to Jeddah Air Base. After retirement, they were stored to the edge of the airport facing deterioration. In the 1980s, these T-35 Buckaroos were dug out and salvaged to be restored, and a C-130 was donated to fly the parts to Dobbins Air Reserve Base. By the late 1980s, many of the aircraft were removed.^[45]

At the time of its decommissioning, Jeddah International Airport's land totaled approximately 2,387 acres (9.66 km²), however the full site was approximately 4,828 acres (19.55 km²). The runway capacity was suitable for wide body aircraft (LCN 90). Full CAT I lighting on 33R, while other runways had standard lighting. There were passenger and cargo terminals, and accommodations for the pilgrims. At the hottest month of the year, the airport would reach 33°C at maximum. Shortly before the closure of the airport, the first area control centre in the country was put into operation there. The tower frequency was 118.1 MHz, while the approach frequency was 124.0 MHz, which were in standard VHF aviation band.^[46]

The airport operated 5 navigation aids, which included VOR/DME, Terminal VOR (TVOR), Medium-frequency Non-directional beacon (NDBM), Runway visual range (RVR), and a precision landing system equipped for Runway 33R. A Visual Approach Slope Indicator System was active on each runway ends.^[46]

In 1958, the airport had two asphalt runways, 15/33 measuring 9,200 feet long and 150 feet wide (1,048 and 46 m), and crosswind runway 09/27 measuring 4,600 feet long (1,402 m). In the 1960s, a second runway was constructed alongside runway 15/33, which was numbered 15R/33L. In 1979, a concrete runway numbered 15L/33R was built parallel to runway 15R/33L, measuring 9,842 feet long (3,000 m). It was equipped with modest lighting technology at the time. Following this, the original runway of 15/33 was merged into the main apron to expand space. By 1980, runway 09/27 was primarily used by local light training aircraft.^[13][46]

Jeddah International Airport was served by multiple nearby hotels, which included Kandara Palace, Jedda Palace, and Red Sea Palace.^[47] These hotels helped ease the congestion of accommodations at Mecca, especially for wealthy pilgrims who could afford the 75 km journey between Jeddah and Mecca.^[24]

The nickname was derived from the neighbourhood of Al-Kandara. Experts claim that it was named after Sheikh Muhammad Bin Omrah Al-Kenaidri, the tribal chief of Al-Kandarah tribe who lived in the area during the 1940s. Other claims included that the word comes from the Turkish word for shoes, or the Turkish word for bloodbath.^[16]

Jeddah International Airport was a popular airport in the Middle East for its time.

This table excludes transit passengers.^[46]

The following is a list of former airlines and their destinations that served Jeddah International Airport as of March 1980:^[48]

• In the 1940s, a Saudi Arabian Airlines Douglas DC-3 experienced in-flight problems, leading to an emergency landing attempt at Jeddah Airport. The pilot entered a holding patterned due to the runway conditions, and afterwards safely landed the aircraft. Emergency response was swift, as fire trucks and ambulances were already waiting on the runway at the time. Word also spread around the airport that the plane had crashed. After the incident, the DC-3 was repaired and made serviceable by next morning.^[49]

• On 25 September, 1959, a Saudi Arabian Airlines DC-4 registered as HZ-AAF departed from Jeddah International Airport and was headed to Riyadh International Airport. After taking off, the plane climbed abnormally high. Flight crew attempted to push the control column forward, so full forward trim and a power reduction were used to avert a stall, however, the aircraft stalled at a 90 degree angle. Unable to return to the runway, the DC-4 belly-landed near the airport. There were no fatalities out of its 72 occupants.^[50]

• On 13 June, 1964, a Saudi Arabian Airlines Douglas DC-3/C-47A-20-DK registered as HZ-AAN departed Jeddah International Airport on a training flight. However, the aircraft lost control and plunged into the Red Sea about 100 kilometers south of the airport. Both pilots, the only occupants, were killed.^[51]

• On 24 June 1967, a Saudi Arabian Airlines Douglas C-47 registered as HZ-AAM suffered an electrical shortage during a sand storm, which caused the aircraft to crash at Khamis Mushait between Jeddah and Nejran, catching aflame in the process. It was en route to Jeddah International Airport from Nejran Airport, and 13 passengers and 3 crew of the 17 passengers onboard were killed.^[52] An American pilot named Robert Gardner was killed, while a Swiss passenger had escaped the flaming wreckage as a sole survivor, and was subsequently hospitalised.^[53]

• On 7 January 1972, a Saudi Arabian Airlines Convair CV-340-68B registered as HZ-AAU departed from Jeddah International Airport. However, its 1st engine suffered from engine failure, prompting an emergency approach to runway 33L. On final approach, its flaps were stuck on 17 degrees. Its 1st engine was on reverse, and the aircraft skidded off the left side of the runway during a rollout. The nosegear struck an asphalt mound and collapsed. The cause was that the pilot was unaware of hydraulic system failure. No fatalities were reported out of its 15 occupants. HZ-AAU was written off due to the extent of the damages.^[54]

• On 9 December, 1974, an Ilyushin Il-18D registered as YR-IMK was leased by EgyptAir and departed from Jeddah International Airport at 19:05 on a repositioning flight to Cairo. Shortly after takeoff, the plane lost radar and radio contact with the airport. Jeddah continued attempts to make radio contact with YR-IMK, and asked nearby planes in the area to also contact YR-IMK. However, it disappeared into the Red Sea. It killed all 6 occupants. A search conducted by the Coast Guard and Royal Saudi Air Force commenced. Three witnesses were found by a helicopter crew, and reported that the plane turned sharply whilst in flames, before plunging into the sea. After search operations on 11 December 1974, only a cooler door, an oxygen mask, scraps of cloth and a sponge from a seat were found in the Red Sea. Authorities were unable to precisely locate the aircraft. On 23 November, 1990, it was concluded the cause of crash was likely caused either by an on-board explosion or a mid-air collision with debris.^[55]

• On 30 November 1979, a Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 707-373C registered as HZ-ACE suffered substantial damage to the fuselage after heavily landing short of the threshold at Jeddah International Airport. The aircraft was written off due to the extent of the damages, and was subsequently scrapped for spare parts.^[56]

• In 1970, Jeddah Airport was shown in many scenes in a short documentary film of Jeddah produced by Echo International Documentary Film.^[57]
• In 1980, British Docudrama Death of a Princess was filmed here to re-enact the airport scene.^[58]

• Video of Kandara Airport, 1973.
• Declassified satellite imagery of Jeddah Airport from 1966
• Declassified satellite imagery of Jeddah Airport from 1979

• Darin Airport, Saudi Arabia’s first military airstrip.
• King Abdulaziz International Airport

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