Jeddah International Airport (closed 1981)

Jeddah International Airport

مطار جدة الدولي
Logo of Jeddah International Airport, c1970s
Summary
Airport typeDefunct
OperatorAéroport De Paris, Ministry of Defense
ServesJeddah and Mecca
LocationAl-Kandara, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Opened1945 (1945) (inaugurated 1952)
ClosedMay 1981 (1981-05)
Passenger services ceasedMay 1981
Hub forSaudia (formerly)
Built1939 as a military airstrip
Elevation AMSL50 ft / 15 m
Coordinates21°29′51″N 39°12′36″E / 21.49750°N 39.21000°E / 21.49750; 39.21000
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
15L/33R 9,848 3,001 Asphalt
15R/33L 9,848 3,001 Asphalt
E/W 6,000 1,828 Asphalt

Jeddah International Airport, also known as Abbas Ibn Firnas Airport or Kandara Airport (IATA: XZF ICAO: OEJD) was the first airport of Saudi Arabia located within 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. It operated as a major gateway into Mecca, mainly serving pilgrims during Haji seasons, while also serving scheduled regular flights.