Mogadishu International Airport: The New Gateway to Africa

Mogadishu International Airport (Banadir, Somalia) is the only international airport in Somalia. It is located in the capital city of Mogadishu. The Airport is the largest airport in Somalia and the ninth busiest airport in Africa.

mogadishu international airport
Aden Abdulle Airport, Mogadishu

Mogadishu International Airport

Which is the biggest airport in Somalia? What is the name Mogadishu international airport? Mogadishu, the white pearl of the Indian Ocean, is a city of more than two million people located in the Horn of Africa. It is the capital of Somalia and one of the oldest and most significant ports in the region.

The city has a long history, dating back to the time of the ancient Somali kingdom of Adal. It was later occupied by the British, and then the Italians. The city was devastated by the Somali Civil War of 1991-1992, and has since been rebuilding.

Mogadishu is a culturally and ethnically diverse city, with a population that includes people from a variety of African and Arab nations. The city is home to many historical and cultural sites, including the Mosque of Islamic Solidarity “Masjidka Isbahaysiga Islaamka” the Mogadishu Museum, and the Mogadishu Beach.

Mogadishu is a popular tourist destination, with attractions including beaches, parks, and nightlife. The city has a rich culture and history and is home to some of the best restaurants and cafes in the world.

Mogadishu is a city that is always bustling with activity. The city is home to a large number of businesses and industries. The city is also home to a large number of universities and schools.

History of Mogadishu Airport

Mogadishu Airport Flights
Aden Abdulle Airport, Mogadishu

Mogadishu international airport (MOG) the biggest Airport in Somalia “Aden Abdulle Airport” was established in 1928 with the name Petrella-Mogadiscio aeroporto, the first such facility to be opened in the Horn of Africa. It served as the main military airport for Italian Somaliland. Citation needed In the mid-1930s, the airport began offering civilian and commercial flights. A regular Asmara-Assab-Mogadishu commercial route was started in 1935, with an Ala Littoria Caproni 133 providing 13-hour flights from the Mogadishu International airport to Italian Eritrea. The aircraft had a maximum capacity of 18 passengers, a record capacity at that time.

In 1936, Ala Littoria launched an intercontinental connection between Mogadishu-Asmara-Khartoum-Tripoli and Rome. The voyage lasted four days and was one of the first long range flights in the world.

During the post-independence period, Mogadishu International Airport offered flights to numerous global destinations. In the mid-1960s, the airport was enlarged to accommodate more international carriers, with the state-owned Somali Airlines providing regular trips to all major cities. By 1969, the airport could also host small jets and DC 6B-type aircraft.

In the 1970s, Somalia’s then-ruling socialist government enlisted its Soviet allies for major renovations to the ground’s facilities. The airport’s capacity to cater to both civilian and military needs was in the process significantly enlarged.

The Somali Air Corps (SAC) also used the airport at this time and had an airlift wing stationed in the capital. The SAC maintained a military academy at the airport that was used by all air force members.

In the 1980s, the Somali federal government recruited the U.S. Navy, its new Cold War partner, to further enlarge the Mogadishu international airport. The project included the construction of a modern control tower equipped with state-of-the-art navigational technology. The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SOMCAA), which then regulated the national aviation industry, also signed a contract with the Italian firm Selenia worth an estimated 17 billion Italian lire ($2.5 million). The agreement stipulated that the company would build a second terminal for international routes as well as a new control tower. The Italian firm was also tasked with supplying air traffic control equipment.

With the collapse of the Siad Barre regime and the ensuing civil war, the airport’s ongoing renovations came to a halt. Aviation operations also routinely experienced disruptions and the airport’s grounds incurred significant damage. On 3 August 2006, African Express Airways became the first international airline to resume regular flights to Mogadishu International Airport.

On 8 June 2007, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) announced that the airport would be renamed in honor of the first President of Somalia, Aden Abdullah Osman Daar, “Aden Adde” who had died earlier in the day.

The following year, due to security risks brought on by the resumption of fighting in the wake of the Ethiopian intervention, most civilian aircraft opted to land and depart from K50 Airstrip, situated about 50 km from Mogadishu in Lower Shabelle. However, in the late 2010 period, the security situation in Mogadishu had significantly improved, with the federal government eventually managing to assume full control of the capital by August of the following year.

On 20 August 2012, the Aden Adde International Airport hosted the swearing in ceremony for many legislators in the nation’s new Federal Parliament. The event also saw the appointment of General Muse Hassan Sheikh Sayid Abdulle as interim President and Parliamentary Speaker.

In 2013, the International Civil Aviation Organization officially removed the airport from its Zone 5 list of airports deemed security risks.

In June 2014, Minister of Air Transportation and Civil Aviation Said Jama Qorshel announced that additional up-to-date technology earmarked for the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu would be delivered.] As of June 2014, the largest services using Aden Adde International Airport include the Somali-owned private carriers Daallo Airlines, Jubba Airways and African Express Airways, in addition to UN charter planes,[16] and Turkish Airlines.

The airport also offers flights to other Somali cities such as Baidoa, Galkayo, Berbera and Hargeisa, as well as international destinations like Djibouti, Jeddah and Istanbul. According to Favori, there were 439,879 domestic and international passengers at the airport in 2014, an increase of 319,925 passengers from the previous year. As of November 2014, the airport accommodates more than 40 flights each day, up from 3 flights in 2011.

Read more: How to say I love you in Somali

Mogadishu Airport Flights

The main international carriers operating flights to and from Mogadishu are Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Turkish Airways, Gulf Air, Emirates, and Qatar Airways. The main domestic airlines operating flights to and from the airport are Somali Airlines, Daallo Airlines, African Express Airways and Jubba Airways.

How to find the cheapest flights to Mogadishu?

To find the cheapest flights to Mogadishu you have to do an extensive review of the online portals offering cheaper flights to Mogadishu.

Decale Hotel Mogadishu

mogadishu airport hotel
Decale Hotel, Mogadishu

The Mogadishu Airport Hotel (Decale Hotel Mogadishu) is a great place to stay if you’re traveling to Somalia. It’s in a great location and the staff is friendly and helpful. The rooms are clean and comfortable, and the hotel has a great breakfast. The hotel also has a great pool and a gym. Overall, I highly recommend the Mogadishu Airport Hotel.

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