Port Bouet Airport

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Port Bouet Airport (Félix Houphouët-Boigny Int'l Airport)
IATA: ABJ - ICAO: DIAP
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		AERIA
Serves		Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Elevation AMSL		21 ft (6 m)
Coordinates		05°15′40.99″N, 03°55′34.66″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
03/21	9,843	3,000	Asphalt

Port Bouet Airport (IATA: ABJ, ICAO: DIAP), also known as Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport, is located in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

In 2004, the airport served 815,403 passengers.

1 Information
2 Political Unrest
3 Airlines and destinations
4 External links

[edit] Information

The airport has a 3,000-meter runway, Instrument Landing System CAT3B equipment, 25 check-in counters, and nine boarding access points. AERIA, Abidjan Airport Management Company, operates and manages the whole airport area and relevant indirect services. There is a military apron at the airport. Private aircraft usually park in the commercial area, away from the terminal. Fencing and lighting are adequate at this facility.

A special airport police unit provides security at Abidjan's airport. X-ray machines and metal detectors are used to screen passengers and their baggage, but security measures at this facility are lacking both in terms of quality and coverage. Theft is a concern in the passenger terminal. Airport officials are known to be corrupt due to their low salaries. Incidents of theft and drug smuggling occur frequently.

[edit] Political Unrest

During times of political unrest, the Ivorian government closes the airport and imposes an overnight curfew for days at a time. There is also a French military base near the airport where protests may occur during times of political unrest.

Occasional violence also occurs at the airport. Most recently, on 6 November 2004, Ivorian troops raided Abidjan's airport in an attempt to destroy French aircraft. One aircraft was slightly damaged during the incident, but there are no details as to the extent or specificity of the damage. As a result of the attack, the airport perimeter was sealed and closed to air traffic.

In the September 2002 mutiny, the Ivorian government closed Abidjan's international airport, as it usually does during times of unrest. Flights were diverted to neighboring Ghana and elsewhere. Unidentified gunmen briefly blocked the major highway leading in and out of Abidjan. Several carriers have cancelled service to Côte d'Ivoire.