It's not exciting, but it's not meant to be. Has about 2-3 departures per day for Dar and Comoros. Never really had any issues there - tiny, straightforward, does what it says on the tin. I think there was a small stand where you could buy water/crisps/cashew nuts after security, and some loos. As it's small you more or less see your plane land, the previous lot of passengers get off and their luggage, then watch your suitcase be put into the cargo hold and are shortly called to board. If you fly into this airport you'll be through baggage reclaim and outside in no time. Nice chilled out vibes. No bother no fuss.
If you arrive fairly early for your flight you may be sent to the waiting area, which is a sort of hangar in a separate building to the check-in building with the gates, etc. The waiting area has no loos but does have a stand selling local chocolate products and a food stand that does meat pies, drinks, ice cream, etc. The pies were quite nice but my colleague's croissant had mould on and the ice creams were a bit melted. Plenty of seating though.
When you get called through to clear security you're shown into the gate area, where there is a small and fascinatingly eclectic shop, selling everything from Monopoly games to history books and t-shirts, and there are loos. I think there was also wifi there. It only holds one plane-load of passengers and you don't spend long there before boarding.
As is fairly typical of small airports like this, you can pretty much see your plane arrive and watch your suitcase going onboard. On arrival, once you've collected your baggage you are basically on the tarmac outside in seconds. There is a small currency exchange but rates and staffing were...unclear. It's within Kumasi city though so not a long drive to in-city hotels.
Reply to @Christian_Maclen_77: Can you provide a link? I cannot find any confirmation of a new name. The latest French AIP still lists it as "Dzaoudzi Pamandzi," and the airport's website link is broken.
I've added runway numbers and estimated length based on the satellite imagery. Unfortunately, this airport isn't covered by the ASECNA AIP, so I can't get exact numbers.
Reply to @kazanova001: Thank you very much. I wish you the best of health and joy as well. If there is any new information you'd like to share about the airport, we'd be happy to add it to the website.
Maria, this is a very long shot as you left your blog a long time ago, but here goes...my name is Amit Som and I went to school with you in St Andrews in 1975. I would be so happy if you could make contact at asom62@yahoo.co.uk. I have a school photo dating from 1975 that has you in it, I remember you with great fondness and hope you get in touch, or some kind soul puts us in touch. All the best, Amit Som St Andrews Blantyre 1975. ps. I have just met our art teacher John Harris here in England! Fond memories of HE The Life President going by in his motorcade and waiting hours for him...great fun. Please get in touch Maria.
This was formerly Dakar's principal airport, but in December 2017, scheduled airline service moved to the newly-constructed Blaise Diagne International Airport, 43 km outside the city.
Reply to @mforte: yes, it's problematic, because GMAR is a Moroccan ICAO code, and this airport is not within Morocco's internationally recognized borders (though they occupy and administer the territory).
The satellite imagery shows a possible clear landing area to the east of the location marker, but it's not at all clear that there is a real airport here, despite the fact that it appears in charts and Wikipedia and has an ICAO code.
France's Base Aerienne 188 shares the north side of the field with the civilian terminal, while the US, Japan, and Djibouti itself have their military bases on the south side.
Also located adjacent to the airport is Japan's only long-term overseas military base, dedicated to anti-piracy operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden:
Camp Lemonnier, the only long-term U.S. military base in Africa, is located on the south side of the airport and shares its facilities. More information here:
I do not like to start a debate, but pls note following: When creating entries for the airfields around El Wak, I added a comment in the entry for the disused city airport that there were possibly two other fields nearby. One of them (a gravel strip) was clearly visible approx. 7.5 kms to the west of the city, for which I created a new entry (KE-0212). I also added a link to the newspaper article which shows people celebrating the opening of what looks like a gravel strip. It is not clear whether this is the same strip of entry KE-0212). Lastly, OpenAIP has an airport HKEW at a location to the S of El Wak city. Although nothing is visible in satellite pictures, this could indeed refer to a stretch of the main road. I therefore have absolutely no problem of HKEW being added to the database with these coordinates, as David has done.
What bothers me somewhat is that this was not done by actually adding a new airport to the database, but by taking the entry for the gravel strip located to the W of the city, and changing its coordinates and designation (KE-0212 is now HKEW). Through this change we may well have a correct HKEW entry, but we have completely lost the gravel strip to the W of El Wak city from the database. I would propose that we do not do this in future and instead preserve other entrie (unless clearly wrong).
this article suggested the new airport is a 2 km long straight stretch on a 10km road, so this location seems to fit the bill and matches the coordinates
This is the main airport for Somaliland, which is self-governing and de-facto independent, but still considered part of Somalia by the international community.
The downtown airport is now closed and partly built-over. OpenAIP shows an airport to the S of El Wak city, labelled HKEW (the old city airport's code). No facilities are visible on the satellite images, so it's not clear whether this is in fact correct. However there is a gravel strip about 7.5 kms W of the city, which seems to serve as the new Airport. I have added this to the database.
"The text identifier used in the OurAirports URL. This will be the ICAO code if available. Otherwise, it will be a local airport code (if no conflict), or if nothing else is available, an internally-generated code starting with the ISO2 country code, followed by a dash and a four-digit number."
Africa
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Latest comments about airports in Africa
Small regional airport
🔗 Fri, 09 Dec 2022
— @seja2 at Mtwara Airport, Tanzania
It's not exciting, but it's not meant to be. Has about 2-3 departures per day for Dar and Comoros. Never really had any issues there - tiny, straightforward, does what it says on the tin. I think there was a small stand where you could buy water/crisps/cashew nuts after security, and some loos. As it's small you more or less see your plane land, the previous lot of passengers get off and their luggage, then watch your suitcase be put into the cargo hold and are shortly called to board. If you fly into this airport you'll be through baggage reclaim and outside in no time. Nice chilled out vibes. No bother no fuss.
Decent regional airport
🔗 Fri, 09 Dec 2022
— @seja2 at Kumasi Airport, Ghana
If you arrive fairly early for your flight you may be sent to the waiting area, which is a sort of hangar in a separate building to the check-in building with the gates, etc. The waiting area has no loos but does have a stand selling local chocolate products and a food stand that does meat pies, drinks, ice cream, etc. The pies were quite nice but my colleague's croissant had mould on and the ice creams were a bit melted. Plenty of seating though.
When you get called through to clear security you're shown into the gate area, where there is a small and fascinatingly eclectic shop, selling everything from Monopoly games to history books and t-shirts, and there are loos. I think there was also wifi there. It only holds one plane-load of passengers and you don't spend long there before boarding.
As is fairly typical of small airports like this, you can pretty much see your plane arrive and watch your suitcase going onboard. On arrival, once you've collected your baggage you are basically on the tarmac outside in seconds. There is a small currency exchange but rates and staffing were...unclear. It's within Kumasi city though so not a long drive to in-city hotels.
(no subject)
🔗 Tue, 06 Dec 2022
— @ivoryhoward at Shamwari Game Reserve Airfield, South Africa
good
(no subject)
🔗 Tue, 06 Dec 2022
— @catrinbrooks at Shamwari Game Reserve Airfield, South Africa
nice
re: New Name
🔗 Thu, 17 Nov 2022
— @david at Dzaoudzi Pamandzi International Airport, Mayotte
Reply to @Christian_Maclen_77: Can you provide a link? I cannot find any confirmation of a new name. The latest French AIP still lists it as "Dzaoudzi Pamandzi," and the airport's website link is broken.
New Name
🔗 Wed, 16 Nov 2022
— @Christian_Maclen_77 at Dzaoudzi Pamandzi International Airport, Mayotte
Since 29-3-2022, new name is "Mayotte - Marcel Henry" airport
Runway length is estimated
🔗 Mon, 14 Nov 2022
— @david at Amdjarass Airport, Chad
I've added runway numbers and estimated length based on the satellite imagery. Unfortunately, this airport isn't covered by the ASECNA AIP, so I can't get exact numbers.
(no subject)
🔗 Fri, 28 Oct 2022
— @SenorBenge at Kenge Airport, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Best Tuna Melt in the Congo. Simply kengetastic!
Subantarctic research station
🔗 Sat, 22 Oct 2022
— @david at Marion Research Station Heliport, South Africa
This research station is administratively part of Cape Town, despite the fact that it's over 2,100 km away.
Found it!
🔗 Mon, 17 Oct 2022
— @animebirder at Ferkessédougou Airport, Côte d'Ivoire
Evidently disused, but it exists.
DFEN
🔗 Tue, 30 Aug 2022
— @Gibbs at Peta Barabe Airfield, Burkina Faso
Gravel runway for the 'I am Gold' Goldmine in Burkina Faso
re: Not GMAR
🔗 Sat, 27 Aug 2022
— @jmdurieux at Al Mahbes Airstrip, Western Sahara
Reply to @PapaOscar:
I will fly there next november
re: Not GMAR
🔗 Sat, 27 Aug 2022
— @jmdurieux at Al Mahbes Airstrip, Western Sahara
Reply to @PapaOscar
I am supposed to fly at GMAR next november ifor the occasion of Rallye La Marche Verte organized by the royal aero club of Agadir:
Not GMAR
🔗 Sun, 14 Aug 2022
— @PapaOscar at Al Mahbes Airstrip, Western Sahara
I removed the GMAR ICAO code from this strip, and created the real GMAR a couple of kilometers north.
re: QUESNA AIRPORT
🔗 Sat, 25 Jun 2022
— @david at Quesna Airport, Egypt
Reply to @kazanova001: Thank you very much. I wish you the best of health and joy as well. If there is any new information you'd like to share about the airport, we'd be happy to add it to the website.
re: QUESNA AIRPORT
🔗 Sat, 25 Jun 2022
— @kazanova001 at Quesna Airport, Egypt
Reply to @kazanova001:
Your reply sir after 8 years since my comment.
Many things changed
God help you , give you health and joy
re: QUESNA AIRPORT
🔗 Fri, 24 Jun 2022
— @david at Quesna Airport, Egypt
Reply to @kazanova001: I assume that's an autocorrect for "build new warehouses".
Permanently Closed
🔗 Sun, 19 Jun 2022
— @medo_h_e at El Nuzha Airport, Egypt
Closed
re: The Chileka Club
🔗 Sun, 24 Apr 2022
— @Amit_St_Andrews at Chileka International Airport, Malawi
Maria, this is a very long shot as you left your blog a long time ago, but here goes...my name is Amit Som and I went to school with you in St Andrews in 1975. I would be so happy if you could make contact at asom62@yahoo.co.uk. I have a school photo dating from 1975 that has you in it, I remember you with great fondness and hope you get in touch, or some kind soul puts us in touch. All the best, Amit Som St Andrews Blantyre 1975. ps. I have just met our art teacher John Harris here in England! Fond memories of HE The Life President going by in his motorcade and waiting hours for him...great fun. Please get in touch Maria.
Runway 03 and 33 Right Hand Circuits
🔗 Fri, 25 Mar 2022
— @SO-FLY at Vereeniging Airport, South Africa
Stay to Northern/Eastern sides while Flying circuits.
Power lines on approach to RWY 03 and 33
re: Not yet visible in satellite imagery (2020-08-28)
🔗 Sat, 26 Feb 2022
— @david at Saint Helena Airport, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Reply to @david: It is visible now.
re: Mistake in the airport position
🔗 Wed, 23 Feb 2022
— @david at Cana Airport, Benin
Now correct.
Thanks!
🔗 Mon, 14 Feb 2022
— @david at Glenside Airfield, South Africa
Thanks for adding this, @Mrb13676
Opened in 2017
🔗 Sat, 29 Jan 2022
— @david at Blaise Diagne International Airport, Senegal
This airport opened in December 2017, and scheduled airline service moved here from Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport inside the city.
https://ourairports.com/airports/GOOY/
No more airline service
🔗 Sat, 29 Jan 2022
— @david at Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport, Senegal
This was formerly Dakar's principal airport, but in December 2017, scheduled airline service moved to the newly-constructed Blaise Diagne International Airport, 43 km outside the city.
https://ourairports.com/airports/GOBD/
El Gamil
🔗 Tue, 18 Jan 2022
— @animebirder at Port Said International Airport, Egypt
This appears to be the same airport that was involved in the 1956 Suez Crisis (as "El Gamil Airfield").
No runway visible
🔗 Sun, 26 Dec 2021
— @david at Kagga Kamma Airport, South Africa
I'm assuming the road doubles as a landing strip, but with the curve, it would be challenging.
re: Need to delete rwy 10/28
🔗 Sun, 26 Dec 2021
— @david at Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, South Africa
Reply to @amirfl: Done.
re: Any verification on the ICAO ID?
🔗 Sat, 25 Dec 2021
— @david at Al Mahbes Airstrip, Western Sahara
Reply to @mforte: yes, it's problematic, because GMAR is a Moroccan ICAO code, and this airport is not within Morocco's internationally recognized borders (though they occupy and administer the territory).
re: (no subject)
🔗 Wed, 22 Dec 2021
— @david at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, Mauritius
Thanks for the comment. Our policy is to list the primary city served rather than the airport's actual location.
Barberton Airport updated info
🔗 Wed, 22 Dec 2021
— @Bushair at Barberton Municipal Airfield, South Africa
Web site: https://www.barbertonairport.co.za
Google maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Barberton+Airport/@-25.716852,30.9706857,1344m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xe49efb090930b719!8m2!3d-25.7146123!4d30.9727426?hl=en
Uncertain status
🔗 Tue, 30 Nov 2021
— @david at Dahara Airport, Mauritania
The satellite imagery shows a possible clear landing area to the east of the location marker, but it's not at all clear that there is a real airport here, despite the fact that it appears in charts and Wikipedia and has an ICAO code.
Ghost airport?
🔗 Tue, 30 Nov 2021
— @david at Timbedra Airport, Mauritania
No runway is visible in the satellite imagery. See problem report:
https://ourairports.com/airports/GQNH/problem-reports/3337.html
Base Aerienne 188 (France)
🔗 Sun, 28 Nov 2021
— @david at Djibouti-Ambouli Airport, Djibouti
France's Base Aerienne 188 shares the north side of the field with the civilian terminal, while the US, Japan, and Djibouti itself have their military bases on the south side.
Japan Self-Defense Force Base Djibouti
🔗 Sun, 28 Nov 2021
— @david at Djibouti-Ambouli Airport, Djibouti
Also located adjacent to the airport is Japan's only long-term overseas military base, dedicated to anti-piracy operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Self-Defense_Force_Base_Djibouti
Camp Lemonnier (U.S.)
🔗 Sun, 28 Nov 2021
— @david at Djibouti-Ambouli Airport, Djibouti
Camp Lemonnier, the only long-term U.S. military base in Africa, is located on the south side of the airport and shares its facilities. More information here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Lemonnier
3 fields near El Wak?
🔗 Fri, 12 Nov 2021
— @Frits at El Wak Airport, Kenya
I do not like to start a debate, but pls note following: When creating entries for the airfields around El Wak, I added a comment in the entry for the disused city airport that there were possibly two other fields nearby. One of them (a gravel strip) was clearly visible approx. 7.5 kms to the west of the city, for which I created a new entry (KE-0212). I also added a link to the newspaper article which shows people celebrating the opening of what looks like a gravel strip. It is not clear whether this is the same strip of entry KE-0212). Lastly, OpenAIP has an airport HKEW at a location to the S of El Wak city. Although nothing is visible in satellite pictures, this could indeed refer to a stretch of the main road. I therefore have absolutely no problem of HKEW being added to the database with these coordinates, as David has done.
What bothers me somewhat is that this was not done by actually adding a new airport to the database, but by taking the entry for the gravel strip located to the W of the city, and changing its coordinates and designation (KE-0212 is now HKEW). Through this change we may well have a correct HKEW entry, but we have completely lost the gravel strip to the W of El Wak city from the database. I would propose that we do not do this in future and instead preserve other entrie (unless clearly wrong).
Thx for your consideration, Frits
re: IATA note
🔗 Mon, 08 Nov 2021
— @david at Niger Air Base 201, Niger
Reply to @animebirder: Thanks for the clarification. I've removed the IATA code from the military base, because it doesn't show up in IATA queries.
IATA note
🔗 Wed, 03 Nov 2021
— @animebirder at Niger Air Base 201, Niger
Has the same IATA code as Mano Dayak International but is a separate airfield, operated by the United States Air Force.
Update ident
🔗 Tue, 02 Nov 2021
— @david at Khartoum International Airport, Sudan
Updated the airport's identifier to match the new icao code
New airport
🔗 Tue, 02 Nov 2021
— @david at (Old) El Wak Airport, Kenya
https://ourairports.com/airports/HKEW/
2km stretch
🔗 Tue, 02 Nov 2021
— @david at El Wak Airport, Kenya
this article suggested the new airport is a 2 km long straight stretch on a 10km road, so this location seems to fit the bill and matches the coordinates
https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/north-eastern/2016-02-25-new-airstrip-to-open-up-elwak-town/
Somaliland's principal airport
🔗 Tue, 02 Nov 2021
— @david at Egal International Airport, Somalia
This is the main airport for Somaliland, which is self-governing and de-facto independent, but still considered part of Somalia by the international community.
Awesome
🔗 Mon, 20 Sep 2021
— @WindyMax at Eagle View Helipad, South Africa
www.migrateportfolio.com
Old El Wak Airport now closed
🔗 Fri, 23 Jul 2021
— @Frits at (Old) El Wak Airport, Kenya
The downtown airport is now closed and partly built-over. OpenAIP shows an airport to the S of El Wak city, labelled HKEW (the old city airport's code). No facilities are visible on the satellite images, so it's not clear whether this is in fact correct. However there is a gravel strip about 7.5 kms W of the city, which seems to serve as the new Airport. I have added this to the database.
HLLM NOTAM
🔗 Sat, 12 Jun 2021
— @Nuwar at Mitiga International Airport, Libya
May you share HLLM NOTAM
hi
🔗 Wed, 12 May 2021
— @feitidede at Tabarka-Aïn Draham International Airport, Tunisia
hello
Fiedl 'ident' in CSV file uses old ICAO (HSSS)
🔗 Wed, 28 Apr 2021
— @espinielli at Khartoum International Airport, Sudan
I am reporting that the CSV dump of the airport DB for the 'ident' field still uses the old ICAO, HSSS, instead of the new one, HSSK.
(Probably 'keyword' needs changing too)
My understanding is that the 'ident' field is about ICAO code, from the Data dictionary page (https://ourairports.com/help/data-dictionary.html):
"The text identifier used in the OurAirports URL. This will be the ICAO code if available. Otherwise, it will be a local airport code (if no conflict), or if nothing else is available, an internally-generated code starting with the ISO2 country code, followed by a dash and a four-digit number."
ew no wtf butt?
🔗 Thu, 08 Apr 2021
— @feitidede at Mano Dayak International Airport, Niger
wtf!! butt why noooo1!11!!!
Parys Airport Restuarant
🔗 Wed, 18 Nov 2020
— @milegrin at Parys Airport, South Africa
After a quick Google search : The restaurant was taken over by Coenraad and Angelique de Jager and re-opened after major revamp in November 2018.
The contact details are : zero eight two 322 3192
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