The Kirkuk International Airport (IATA: KIK, ICAO: ORKK) is an airport located in Kirkuk, Iraq. The airport officially opened in 16 October 2022 for civil visitors.[3][4]
Kirkuk international Airport مطار كركوك الدولي Maṭār Karkūk al-dawlī | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Military/Public | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Kirkuk Airport Authority | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Kirkuk | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Iraq | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 1,061 ft / 323 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°28′10″N 44°20′56″E / 35.46944°N 44.34889°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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  KIK | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Since 2003, the airport was used by the U.S. Air Force as a military airport. It was returned to the Iraqi Army in November 2011.[5] In 2012, the Iraqi Transportation Ministry decided to move the military section to another location, a prerequisite for turning the air base into a civilian airport.[6] According to the (Nazaha) committee, the government allocated 93.5 million dollars from the airport project.[7][8]
History
editAt the onset of the Iran-Iraq War, Al-Hurriah was the main airbase use by the newly purchased Mirage F1s. It was bombed in Operation Sultan 10 in 1980 in the early phase of the war.
Kirkuk Regional Air Base was home to the 506th Air Expeditionary Group. The group maintained base security, conducted safe flying operations and actively supported base agencies in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and other U.S. Air Forces Central and U.S. Central Command contingency plans.
Approximately 1,000 active-duty, Reserve and Guard Airmen were assigned to the 506th AEG during any given Air Expeditionary Force rotation. Additionally, approximately 5,000 soldiers are assigned to the installation, commonly known as Forward Operating Base Warrior. As of July 2011, the majority of these soldiers were assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, U.S. 1st Infantry Division, and the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division.
The 506th AEG was the most forward deployed Air Force Group in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The heritage of the 506th AEG is tied to the famous 506th Fighter Group of World War II.
Among the base agencies the 506th AEG actively supports is the Kirkuk Provincial Reconstruction Team[9] (PRT).
Airlines and destinations
editThe airport reopened to civilian aircraft in 2022.
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Iraqi Airways | Ankara,[10] Baghdad, Istanbul,[11] Baku |
| Mahan Air | Tehran–Imam Khomeini[12] |
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul[citation needed] |
Location
editKirkuk RAB lies in northeastern region of Iraq in the outskirts of the city of Kirkuk, one of the largest metropolitan areas in Iraq. Kirkuk is approximately 180 mi (290 km) north of Baghdad.
References
edit- ^ "Iraq's AIP. Consolidated edition, February, 2021" (PDF). Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "اﻟﻧﻘل اﻟﺟوي ﻓﻲ اﻟﻘطﺎع اﻟﺣﮐوﻣﻲ إﺣﺻﺎء ﻧﺷﺎط ﺔـ ﻟﺳﻧ 2022" (PDF). Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology (COSIT). Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "Iraq inaugurates new Kirkuk International airport". Iraq inaugurates new Kirkuk International airport. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Iraq opens new airport in Kirkuk". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "US Ghosts Left at Kirkuk Base After Iraqi Army Fled". ABC News. 16 June 2014.
- ^ "Military section of Kirkuk airport to be moved". 23 February 2012. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ^ "Kirkuk Airport | SKYbrary Aviation Safety". Skybrary.aero. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ Shilani, Mustafa (26 September 2019). "Iraq integrity commission says Kirkuk airport 'only one percent completed'". www.kurdistan24.net. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ "Kirkuk Provincial Reconstruction Team". Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- ^ "Iraqi Airways Begins Kirkuk – Turkey Service From Nov 2022". Aeroroutes. 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Iraqi Airways Begins Kirkuk – Turkey Service From Nov 2022". Aeroroutes. 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Mahan Air NS23 Tehran – Kirkuk Operations".