Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport

Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport
IATA: KANICAO: DNKN
KAN
Location of Airport in Nigeria
Summary
Airport type Public/Military
Owner/Operator Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
Serves Kano, Nigeria
Elevation AMSL 1,562 ft / 476 m
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05/23 2,451 8,040 Asphalt
06/24 3,301 10,831 Asphalt
Sources: FAAN [1] and DAFIF [2][3]

Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (IATA: KANICAO: DNKN) is located in Kano, a city in the Kano State of Nigeria. It is the main airport serving northern Nigeria and was named after Nigerian politician Aminu Kano. The airport consists of an international and a domestic terminal. Both terminals share the same runway. Construction started on a new domestic terminal, and was commissioned on May 23, 2011. In 2009, the airport handled 323,482 passengers.

Contents

History

Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport is the oldest in Nigeria, with operations starting in 1936. In the first decades of operation, the airport became an important fuel stop for airlines flying long-haul services between Europe and Africa. Newer aircraft however did not need such fuel stops any longer, and with the demise of the economy of Kano in the late 20th century, many international airlines stopped serving the airport. KLM is the only European airline currently serving Kano, which they have done without interruption since 1947. This makes KLM the longest-serving foreign airline in Nigeria. Currently the bulk of international flights cater for the large Lebanese community in Kano and Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca.

Facilities

The airport both serves civilian and military flights. Runway 06/24 is mainly used for civilian flights, while runway 05/23 primarily serves the Nigerian Air Force base at the south side of the airport. But runway 05/23 was in use for all operations, when the main runway was rehabilitated in the beginning of the 21st century. Between the two runways lie the terminal facilities.

The main terminal with the control tower serves international flights and domestic services operated by Arik Air and Nigerian Eagle Airlines. Facilities in the departure lounge are minimal, with a newsstand near the check-in counter, and a small bar at airside. There is a small VIP Lounge for business class passengers. Duty Free shops are currently closed. In the arrivals hall there is a small bar and a post office.

On the south side of the airport, along runway 06/24, is the domestic terminal currently serving operations of Bellview Airlines and IRS Airlines. Facilities include a newsstand and small bar.

Construction of a new domestic terminal, adjacent to the main terminal building, started in the beginning of the 21st century. Construction was however abandoned, but was resumed. The operator of the airport, Federal Airports Authority Nigeria (FAAN), saw the completion of the new terminal in November 2009 and was commissioned on May 2011.[1]

Statistics

Statistics for Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport [4]
Year Total Passengers  % Increase Freight (tons) Total Aircraft Movements
2007
2008 346,683
2009 323,482 (9.8%)

Airlines and destinations

Airlines Destinations
Air Nigeria Abuja, Lagos
Arik Air Abuja, Enugu, Lagos
EgyptAir Cairo
IRS Airlines Abuja, Lagos
KLM Amsterdam
Middle East Airlines Beirut, Kinshasa
Saudi Arabian Airlines Jeddah
Sudan Airways Khartoum, Ndjamena

Cargo

Airlines Destinations
Avient Aviation Liège, Sharjah

Incidents

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

  1. ^ a b Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN): Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano
  2. ^ Airport information for DNKN at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.Source: DAFIF.
  3. ^ Airport information for KAN at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective Oct. 2006).
  4. ^ Statistics from Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
  5. ^ Nigerian Sports Minister, 146 Others Feared Dead in Air Crash

External links

Nigeria portal
Aviation portal