Jeddah International Airport (closed 1981)
Jeddah International Airport مطار جدة الدولي | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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A Saudia Boeing 747 parked in Jeddah Airport, 1977. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Defunct | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Saudi Arabia | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | General Directorate of Civil Aviation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Jeddah and Mecca | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Al-Kandara and Al-Sharafiya, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 14 October 1952 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closed | 31 May 1981 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passenger services ceased | May 1981 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hub for | Saudia (formerly) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Focus city for | Air France (formerly) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Built | 1939 as a military airstrip | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 50 ft / 15 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 21°29′51″N 39°12′36″E / 21.49750°N 39.21000°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Interactive map of Jeddah International Airport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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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.