Abha International Airport

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Abha International Airport
مطار أبها الدولي
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerState
OperatorGovernment
ServesAbha / Khamis Mushait
LocationAsir Province, Saudi Arabia
Operating base for
Flynas[1]
Elevation AMSL6,858 ft (2,090 m)
Coordinates18°14′25″N 042°39′24″E / 18.24028°N 42.65667°E / 18.24028; 42.65667
Websitehttps://abha-airport.com
Map
OEAB is located in Saudi Arabia
OEAB
OEAB
Location of airport in Saudi Arabia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
13/31 3,350 10,991 Asphalt
Sources:[2][3]

Abha International Airport (Arabic: مطار أبها الدولي, IATA: AHB[4], ICAO: OEAB) is an airport in Abha, the capital of Asir Province in Saudi Arabia.

The site was a new construction area between Khamis Mushait and Abha, and serves both cities.

History

Construction of the airport started in mid-1975 by Laing Wimpey Alireza. Earlier, domestic flights had been handled at the military airport near Khamis Mushait. The airport became operational in 1977.[5] The construction was carried out by Bin Trif Airport ltd.[6]

On 7 October 2026, Abha International Airport, along with King Khalid International Airport, were targeted by a drone strike by the Houthis. At Abha International Airport, a Moroccan and an Algerian were killed, while another 28 people were injured.[7]

Facilities

The airport is located at an elevation of 6,858 feet (2,090 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 13/31 with an asphalt surface measuring 3,350 by 45 metres (10,991 ft × 148 ft).[2]

Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights:

AirlinesDestinations
Air Arabia Cairo,[8] Sharjah[9]
Air Cairo Assiut, Cairo, Sohag
Egyptair Cairo
Flyadeal Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh
Seasonal: Cairo
Flydubai Dubai–International[10]
Flynas Addis Ababa,[11] Al Baha, Bisha, Cairo,[12] Dammam, Dubai–Al Maktoum,[11] Dubai–International,[13] Gassim, Giza,[11] Istanbul,[11] Jeddah, Jizan, Kuwait City,[11] Medina, Riyadh, Sharurah,[12] Trabzon,[11] Wadi al-Dawasir[14]
Jazeera Airways Kuwait City
Nesma Airlines Cairo
Nile Air Cairo
Qatar Airways Doha
SalamAir Muscat
Saudia Cairo, Jeddah,[15] Medina, Riyadh,[16] Tabuk, Ta’if

Statistics

PassengersYear2,000,0003,000,0004,000,0005,000,0006,000,0007,000,000100015002000250030003500PassengersAnnual passenger traffic

Houthi attacks

The airport has been frequently targeted in missile or drone attacks by Houthi forces during the Yemeni civil war.

It was initially attacked by the Yemeni Houthi movement on 12 June 2019, injuring 26 people.[17]

On 23 June 2019, the Houthis launched another attack on the airport, leaving a Syrian national dead and 21 injured.[18]

The airport was attacked again by missiles on 2 July 2019, leaving nine injured.[19]

Another attack against the airport by Houthi forces occurred on 31 August 2020, when a bomb-laden drone was detected flying to it and intercepted, along with a remotely controlled boat off the Red Sea, which was also filled with explosives and ready for an attack.[20]

On 10 February 2021, Houthis used four drones to carry out a drone strike on the airport, damaging a civilian aircraft (a Flyadeal Airbus A320)[21] and starting a fire. A Houthi spokesman said the attack was in response to coalition airstrikes and other actions in Yemen.[22]

On 31 August 2021, the airport was again attacked by Houthi drones, leaving 8 wounded.[23]

On 13 July 2026, the airport was attacked once again by Houthi drones, no casualties reported.[24]

See also

References

  1. "flynas opens new base in Abha". connectingtravel.com. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  2. Airport information for OEAB[link removed] from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  3. "Airport information for AHB". DAFIF. October 2006 – via Great Circle Mapper.
  4. "IATA Airport Code Search (AHB: Abha)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  5. "Abha Airport Airport". Idealo. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  6. "Air Transport - SAFE Saudi Arabia for Elites". 15 April 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  7. "Three killed, 36 injured in Houthi attacks on Saudi airports, Riyadh says". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
  8. "Cairo, Egypt CAI". OAG Flight Guide Worldwide. 26 (11). Luton, United Kingdom: OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited: 198–201. May 2025. ISSN 1466-8718. OCLC 41608313.
  9. "Sharjah, United Arab Emirates SHJ". OAG Flight Guide Worldwide. 26 (11). Luton, United Kingdom: OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited: 1056–1057. May 2025. ISSN 1466-8718. OCLC 41608313.
  10. "Dubai, United Arab Emirates DXB". OAG Flight Guide Worldwide. 26 (11). Luton, United Kingdom: OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited: 337–343. May 2025. ISSN 1466-8718. OCLC 41608313.
  11. "flynas opens new base in Abha". connectingtravel.com. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  12. "Route Map". Flynas. Archived from the original on 20 September 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  13. "flynas adds Abha to Dubai operation". 30 November 2017.
  14. "Flight Schedule". Flynas. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  15. "Jeddah, Saudi Arabia JED". OAG Flight Guide Worldwide. 27 (2). Luton, United Kingdom: OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited: 597–600. August 2025. ISSN 1466-8718. OCLC 41608313.
  16. "Riyadh, Saudi Arabia RUH". OAG Flight Guide Worldwide. 27 (2). Luton, United Kingdom: OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited: 1091–1094. August 2025. ISSN 1466-8718. OCLC 41608313.
  17. "Arab Coalition Says Houthi Terror Attack Targets Saudi Arabia's Abha Airport". Asharq AL-awsat. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  18. "One killed, seven injured in Houthi attack on Saudi Abha airport". Al Arabiya. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  19. Yemen's Houthis attack Saudi's Abha airport, injuring civilians
  20. "Saudi-led coalition destroys explosive-laden drone, boat launched by Yemen's Houthis - SPA". Reuters. 30 August 2020. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020.
  21. "Yemen's Houthis say they carried out drone attack on Saudi airport". Reuters. 10 February 2021. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021.
  22. Ghantous, Ghaida; Barrington, Lisa (10 February 2021). Stonestreet, John; Heritage, Timothy; Richardson, Alex (eds.). "Yemen's Houthis say they carried out drone attack on Saudi airport". Reuters. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  23. "Several wounded in a drone attack on Saudi airport: Coalition".
  24. "Houthis: Saudi airport targeted in retaliation for strikes on Sanaa airport". Al-Jazeera. 14 July 2026.