Socotra Airport

Socotra Airport
مطار سقطرى
Summary
Airport typePublic / Military
ServesSocotra
LocationHidaybu district, Socotra Governorate, Yemen
Opened1999 (1999)
Elevation AMSL45 m / 146 ft
Coordinates12°37′50″N 053°54′20″E / 12.63056°N 53.90556°E / 12.63056; 53.90556
Map
SCT
Location of airport in Yemen
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
03/21 3,300 10,827 Asphalt

Socotra Airport (Arabic: مطار سقطرى) is an airport in Socotra, Yemen (IATA: SCT, ICAO: OYSQ). It is the only commercial airport that serves the Socotra Governorate of Yemen and its capital town of Hadibu.

History

Socotra Airport was first opened in July 1999.[1] Prior to its construction, travel to Socotra was difficult and often required visitors to board cargo ships and go by sea, which itself was unreliable during monsoon season.[2] The opening of the airport coincided with increasing development of the island.[3]

Flights were suspended in March 2015, due to the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.[4]

In April 2018, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) deployed more than a hundred troops with artillery and armoured vehicles to the Yemeni archipelago of Socotra in the Guardafui Channel without prior coordination with the Yemeni government, causing the relations of the two countries to deteriorate. During the occupation of Socotra, Emirati troops dismissed the Yemeni officials and took administrative control of the airport.[5][6] The following month, an agreement was reached between the United Arab Emirates and Yemen where control of the airport returned to the Yemeni authorities.[7][8]

On 21 June 2020, following a coup, the United Arab Emirates-backed Southern Transitional Council took control of Socotra from the internationally-recognized government of Yemen,[9] However it was retaken in the 2026 Yemeni offensive.

The UAE runs a once a week charter flight to the airport from Abu Dhabi.[10] The flights were not authorized by the internationally-recognized government of Yemen, and have been described as illegitimate by the Houthi government and an unnamed source in the Yemeni Information, Tourism and Culture Ministry.[11][12]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
Yemenia Aden, Al Ghaydah, Mukalla, Jeddah [13][14]

Accidents and incidents

There have been no recorded accidents or incidents at Socotra Airport.[15] However, in 1992, a Yemeni Air Force Antonov An-12 which took off from Socotra Airport bound for Aden International Airport crashed at Bir Fabr in Abyan Governorate, killing all 58 occupants.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Socotra may be part of 7 wonders". Almotamar Net. 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  2. ^ Burdick, Alan (2007-03-25). "The Wonder Land of Socotra, Yemen". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2025-07-15. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  3. ^ White, Mel (June 2012). "Where the Weird Things Are". National Geographic. ISSN 0027-9358. Archived from the original on 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  4. ^ Ghattas, Abir (31 March 2015). "Yemen's No Fly Zone: Thousands of Yemenis are Stranded Abroad". Global Voices. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  5. ^ "UAE forces 'occupy' sea and airports on Yemen's Socotra". Aljazeera. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Anger erupts on Yemen's Socotra as UAE deploys over 100 troops". Aljazeera. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Yemen PM: Crisis over UAE deployment to Socotra over". Al Jazeera. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Yemen, UAE Agree on Deal Over Socotra". Albawaba News. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  9. ^ Mukhashaf, Mohammed (21 June 2020). "Yemen separatists seize remote Socotra island from Saudi-backed government". Reuters. Reuters.
  10. ^ Gambrell, Jon (2025-01-17). "Mysterious airstrip appears on a Yemeni island as Houthi rebel attacks threaten region". AP News. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  11. ^ "Houthi gov't slams UAE over Israel tourists on Socotra and air base on Mayun island". Middle East Monitor. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Foreign tourists can finally visit Yemen's idyllic Socotra. Yemenis cannot". Middle East Eye. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Yemenia Airways Launches Direct Flights Between Jeddah and Socotra". Yemen Monitor. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  14. ^ "Flights from Socotra (SCT)". flightconnections.com. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Socotra Airport profile". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Accident Antonov An-12, Tuesday 14 July 1992". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
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