# Jiddah International Airport (1981)

Jiddah 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, 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 operated as a major gateway into Mecca, mainly serving pilgrims during Haji seasons, however it also scheduled regular flights. It also operated the 8 wing of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) and its Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Air France had a facility at Jiddah International Airport for its international operations.
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 has various facilities like hospitals, administrations and accommodations.

## History

The first aviation events in Jeddah could be traced back to 1936, when there was only a temporary airstrip being used at the time. On March 18, 1936, an aviation school was first established in Jeddah under the supervision of Italian instructor Captain Chico. Later on in April 19, his Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz visited the school to inspect its activities. In 1937, the Saudi Arabian Aviation Administration was established in Jeddah to oversee aviation operations. It was equipped with six aircraft and a group of military officers.

### Early Establishment

Jiddah International Airport's early history roots back in 1939 as a military airstrip, which was known at the time as Jeddah Airport. In 1937, the Saudi government concluded a contract with Britain for the establishment of Jeddah Airport, and the airstrip opened in 1939.
In 1945, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gifted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a Douglas DC-3, which landed on the airstrip. 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 Saudi Arabia's first civil aviation history.
A significant moment was marked, when on June 1945, the first international flight was made from Jeddah to Damascus. On September 1945, Saudi Arabian Airlines (now known as Saudia) was established, and by 1946, became a fully government agency of the Ministry of Defense. Its operating base was located in Jeddah Airport. In 1947, an airport business school was opened, and by 1949, a group of aviation students were sent to study in England after training at Al-Houba Airport on English Tiger Moths. The airstrip also participated in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. A year later in 1950, more students were sent to England, and other defenses sent to the United States of America. In 1951, the students graduated and returned to the kingdom to form the Saudi Air Force.

### Beginnings of Civil and Military Aviation

By the 1950s, air travel to Mecca quickly became popular, because of how it was time sufficient and required less walking. Jeddah Airport would see 250,000 pilgrims passing by on average, and the usage of ox-carts, walking, and camels also quickly loss popularity. 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. Following the inauguration on November 5, the flag of the Air Force was raised over the first flight hangar in the airport, which was reserved for Air Force usage. The ceremony was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense and Aviation. Afterwards, Air Force schools begun opening in the kingdom, especially the Aviation School which opened in 1953. In the same year, the first civilian air traffic control tower was also built. On January 6, 1954, the Air Force School was opened at the airport.
In 1957, the Saudi Air Force begun major developments in the airport. The first squadrons were established, including the transportation squadron which was equipped with Douglas C-54 Skymasters and Fokker S-13s. The No. 3 Squadron RSAF was also formed with Douglas A-26 Invaders, which was a major component to modernizing the Air Force. The No. 5 Squadron RSAF was also formed, equipped with 20 De Havilland Vampires. In a US report from 1958, Jeddah Airport served as the headquarters for the Royal Saudi Air Force. Jeddah Airport also operated four steel hangars, various shops and could store approximately 65,400 gallons of Avgas. If in an emergency, American McDonnell F-101 Voodoo Fighter jets and the Martin B-57C Canberra were to operate at the airport alongside the Douglas C-54 Skymaster and Douglas C-124 Globemaster II aircraft for military cargo operations.

### Accommodations for the Haji

Before the 1950s, arriving Hajj pilgrims stayed in rented 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 9652 square metres were built, which could accommodate 2000 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.
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 interaction. There also was a simple, repetitive architdcture 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.

### Rising Congestion

In the 1960s, the construction of Al Hagon Bridge of the Jeddah Internal Ways Project was awarded to The Arab Contractors, Osman Ahmed Osman & Co. The bridge was completed in 1963 and connected Mekka to Jeddah Airport via a series of internal roads, having cost 10,500,000 million Saudi Arabian riyals. By 1964, the control tower had received significant upgrades with 2 floors, including additional tower height. During the 1970s, squadrons No. 4 Squadron RSAF, No. 16 Squadron RSAF, and No. 20 under the 8 Wing were established and based at Jeddah Airport. By the 1970s, runway 15L/33R was constructed parallel to the pre-existing runway. By this time, the old E/W cross-runway had closed. In 1973, these international airlines served Kandara Airport: Air Algérie, Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, JAT Yugoslav Airlines, Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie (CSA), Ariana Afghan Airlines, Air Afrique, Air Guinée, Afghan Airlines, and Iraqi Airways. 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.

### Downfall

By the 1970s, the rapid growth in air transportation, especially with the increase of pilgrims and Umrah performers had exceeded the capacity of the airport. In 1974, Saudi Arabian authorities begun the construction of a new airport north of Jeddah, which had more room for expansion. In 1975, the first approach radar was also installed on the runways. In 1979, the third city was upgraded to accommodate 30,000 pilgrims arriving from the airport, including sped up arrival procedures and measures. On 16 January 1979, the airport and the city faced 3 inches of rain in an hour, which led to flooding. On 17 January, the weather report was canceled due to the weather conditions of the airport, and that forecasts were obtained through offices there.

## Closure

Jiddah International Airport was located in the neighborhood of Al-Kandara, 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.
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. On 1 April, 1981, King Abdulaziz International Airport was inaugurated, and opened in May 31, and Jiddah International Airport was shortly closed afterwards. It was given the ICAO code OEJN, which stood for “Jeddah New”. The site of the former airport was to be redeveloped for housing.

### Aftermath

Shortly after closure, a highway was quickly built across the former runways, with its tarmac laid through the old aircraft boneyard. According to google earth imagery from 2008-2009, Jiddah International Airport’s two original hangars, dating from the airport’s establishment had been demolished. Currently on imagery dating 2024, only three hangars and smaller support facilities are still remaining, with all of the runways being 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.

## Jeddah Air Base

Jeddah Air Base was opened on November 5, 1952, after the flag of the RSAF was raised. Two steel hangars at the time were reserved for the Air Force. In 1981, the 8th Wing of the RSAF was stationed in Jeddah Air Base, and operated their C-130 Hercules aircraft. The Pakistan Air Force’s Mirage III aircraft transited through the airfield on delivery flights, and Singapore Air Force T-33 aircraft also passed through for delivery flights. The facility also saw frequent French Air Force C-160 Transall flights from Djibouti.

### Units

The following units based at Jeddah Air Base.
* No. 1 Squadron RSAF, 1954, equipped with Douglas C-54 Skymasters and Fokker S-13s
* No. 2 Squadron RSAF, 1954
* No. 3 Squadron RSAF, 1955 - 1964, equipped with B-26 bombers and 8 Douglas A-26B Invaders
* No. 4 Squadron RSAF, 1957, equipped with Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft
* No. 5 Squadron RSAF, 1957, equipped with 20 De Havilland Vampires

### Aircraft boneyard

Located just outside of Jiddah 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. In 1953, ten 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.

## Layout

Before the 1960s, the airport originally had two asphalt runways 15/33 10,000 feet long and 150 feet wide (1048 and 46 m) E/W 6,000 feet long and 150 feet wide (1828 and 46 m). In the 1970s, a second runway was constructed alongside runway 15/33, and a third runway in the later 70s. The original runway of 15/33 was merged into the apron to expand space.

### Etymology

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.

## In popular culture

* In 1980, British Docudrama Death of a Princess was filmed here to re-enact the airport scene.