- Source: Wajir Airport
Wajir Airport is an airport in Wajir County, Kenya.
Location
Wajir Airport (IATA: WJR, ICAO: HKWJ) is located in Wajir town. Traditionally inhabited by ethnic Borana and later Somalis, the area lies near the Jubbada Hoose region of southern Somalia.
By air, Wajir Airport is situated approximately 495 kilometres (308 mi) northeast of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya's largest civilian airport. Situated 231 metres (758 ft) above sea level, the airport has a single asphalt runway measuring 2,795 metres (9,170 ft) in length. The geographical coordinates of this airport are: 1° 43' 48.00"N, 40° 5' 24.00"E (latitude:1.73000; longitude:40.09000).
History
The Wajir Airport was built by an Israeli construction Company HZ between 1977 and 1978, as a military airbase for the Kenya Air Force.
In November 2006, the Kenyan government decided to suspend direct scheduled flights to and from Somalia owing to security concerns vis-a-vis the then existing Islamic Courts Union. Following pressure by politically influential Somali traders to resume the cargo flights, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) lifted its suspension a few months later in August 2007. It also indicated that all flights should thereafter stop at
the Wajir Airport for customs, immigration and security screening before continuing onto their final destination. The Kenyan authorities subsequently outsourced the construction of a new terminal in the airport and assigned KCAA, customs, immigration and security officials to operate in the facility. On 7 September 2007, the Wajir Airport was commissioned to officially accommodate both passenger and military flights.
In 2012, US Navy Seabees built a new tarmac runway that can take heavy aircraft.
Facilities and staff
The airport has about 100 workers, mainly consisting of police officers. There are two military camps situated within the airport's limits. An army camp is located on the western side of the terminal building, with an air force compound approximately 0.5 kilometres (500 m), south of the perimeter fence. Security personnel guard the airport's only entrance to assure security.
Airlines and destinations
Wajir Airport handles about seven flights per day. As of September 2012, civil flights are offered twice a week by Echo. Most flights, however, are cargo. Some charter and military flights are additionally accommodated. As of August 2021, flights from Somalia have had to make a stop-over at Wajir Airport.
See also
List of airports in Kenya
References
External links
Security checks at Wajir airport for Mogadishu-Nairobi flights to stay As at 20 January 2017.
Website of Kenya Airports Authority
List of Airports In Kenya
Airport information for HKWJ at Great Circle Mapper.
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Provinsi Timur Laut (Kenya)
- Bandar Udara Internasional Abdullahi Yusuf
- Bandar Udara Internasional Aden Adde
- Bandar Udara Internasional Bender Qassim
- Wajir Airport
- Wajir
- North Eastern Province (Kenya)
- Transport in Kenya
- Renegade Air
- Kenya Airports Authority
- List of airports in Kenya
- Kenya Air Force
- List of airports by IATA airport code: W
- List of airports by ICAO code: H