Benina International Airport
Encyclopedia
Benina International Airport (Arabic:
مطار بنينة الدولي) serves Benghazi
, Libya
. It is located in the town of Benina, 19 km east of Benghazi, from which it takes its name. The airport is operated by the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Bureau of Libya and is the second largest in the country after Tripoli International Airport
. Benina International is also the secondary hub of both Buraq Air
and flag carrier, Libyan Airlines.
On 22 February 2011, in the opening week of the Libyan uprising, Al Jazeera reported that the airport's runways had been destroyed, preventing aircraft from operating. That was not the case, and the airport operated normally.
, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Force Ninth Air Force
during the Eastern Desert Campaign. Known as Soluch Airfield, it was used by the 376th Bombardment Group, which flew B-24 Liberator
heavy bombers from the airfield between 22 February - 6 April 1943. Once the combat units moved west, it was used as a logistics hub by Air Transport Command
. It functioned as a stopover en-route to Payne Field
near Cairo
or to Mellaha Field near Tripoli
on the North African Cairo
-Dakar
transport route for cargo, transiting aircraft and personnel.
. The final cost is estimated at 1.1 billion LYD (€ 630 million). As with Tripoli International Airport, the new terminal was designed by Aéroports de Paris Engineering. Preliminary work and site preparation has started, but it remains unclear when the terminal will be open for operation.
The contract for Benina International Airport includes construction of a new international terminal, runway and apron. The new airport is part of an extensive new infrastructure programme being undertaken by the government of Libya throughout the country.
. So far, seven airlines (Afriqiyah Airways, EgyptAir, Libyan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian and Tunisair) have resumed service.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
مطار بنينة الدولي) serves Benghazi
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. It is located in the town of Benina, 19 km east of Benghazi, from which it takes its name. The airport is operated by the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Bureau of Libya and is the second largest in the country after Tripoli International Airport
Tripoli International Airport
The Tripoli International Airport is an international airport that serves Tripoli, Libya. It is operated by the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Bureau of Libya and is the nation's largest airport...
. Benina International is also the secondary hub of both Buraq Air
Buraq Air
Buraq Air is an airline with its headquarters on the grounds of Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, Libya. It operates scheduled domestic and international services to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Buraq also operates passenger and cargo charter services and flights in support of...
and flag carrier, Libyan Airlines.
On 22 February 2011, in the opening week of the Libyan uprising, Al Jazeera reported that the airport's runways had been destroyed, preventing aircraft from operating. That was not the case, and the airport operated normally.
History
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Force Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
during the Eastern Desert Campaign. Known as Soluch Airfield, it was used by the 376th Bombardment Group, which flew B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
heavy bombers from the airfield between 22 February - 6 April 1943. Once the combat units moved west, it was used as a logistics hub by Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
. It functioned as a stopover en-route to Payne Field
Payne Field
Payne Field was the first airport constructed in Mississippi. It was located at West Point, Mississippi. It was constructed in the Spring of 1918 by the United States Army Air Service and used to train pilots during World War I.-External links:...
near Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
or to Mellaha Field near Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
on the North African Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
-Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
transport route for cargo, transiting aircraft and personnel.
Future plans
A new terminal with a capacity of 5 million passengers will be developed north of the existing runway at Benina International under a 720 million LYD (€ 415 million) first-stage contract awarded to Canada's SNC-LavalinSNC-Lavalin
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. is a large Canadian engineering firm. It is one of the ten largest engineering firms in the world and is based in Montreal, Quebec. It formed in 1991 from the merger of SNC and the failing Lavalin, another Quebec based engineering firm....
. The final cost is estimated at 1.1 billion LYD (€ 630 million). As with Tripoli International Airport, the new terminal was designed by Aéroports de Paris Engineering. Preliminary work and site preparation has started, but it remains unclear when the terminal will be open for operation.
The contract for Benina International Airport includes construction of a new international terminal, runway and apron. The new airport is part of an extensive new infrastructure programme being undertaken by the government of Libya throughout the country.
Airlines and destinations
Note: All flights were suspended during the Libyan civil war2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
. So far, seven airlines (Afriqiyah Airways, EgyptAir, Libyan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian and Tunisair) have resumed service.
Current service
Pre civil war service that has not resumed
Accidents and incidents
- On 4 April 1943, Lady Be GoodLady be Good (aircraft)Lady Be Good was an American B-24D Liberator, AAF serial number 41-24301, which flew for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Based at Soluch Field in Soluch as part of the 514th Bomb Squadron, 376th Bomb Group, it failed to return from an April 4, 1943 bombing raid on Naples,...
World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
crashed south of Soluch Field and was lost for 15 years. - On 9 August 1958, Vickers ViscountVickers ViscountThe Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
VP-YNE of Central African AirwaysCentral African AirwaysCentral African Airways was formed in 1946 from the wartime Southern Rhodesian Air Services , which was in turn formed from the pre-war Rhodesia And Nyasaland Airways and Southern Rhodesia Air Force communications squadron...
crashed 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) south east of Benina International Airport, killing 36 of the 54 people on board. See: 1958 Central African Airways plane crash1958 Central African Airways plane crashThe 1958 Central African Airways plane crash occurred when a Vickers Viscount airliner crashed during a scheduled passenger flight from Wadi Halfa, Sudan to Benghazi, Libya on 9 August 1958 about 9 kilometers southeast of Benina International Airport in Libya.... - On 22 January 1971, a Douglas DC-3 of Ethiopian AirlinesEthiopian AirlinesEthiopian Airlines , formerly Ethiopian Air Lines, often referred to as simply Ethiopian, is an airline headquartered on the grounds of Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It serves as the country's flag carrier, and is wholly owned by the Government of Ethiopia...
was hijackAircraft hijackingAircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. In most cases, the pilot is forced to fly according to the orders of the hijackers. Occasionally, however, the hijackers have flown the aircraft themselves, such as the September 11 attacks of 2001...
ed on a domestic passenger flight from Bahir Dar AirportBahir Dar AirportBahir Dar Airport is an airport in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia . Located at an elevation of 1821 meters above sea level, this airport has one runway made of a variety of materials 3000 meters long by 61 wide.-Scheduled services:-Accidents and incidents:...
to Gondar AirportGondar AirportAzezo Airport , also known as Gondar Airport, is an airport serving Gondar, a city in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Located at an elevation of above sea level, this airport has one asphalt paved runway measuring .-Airlines and destinations:...
by four EritreaEritreaEritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
n hijackers. The aircraft was forced to land at Benghazi Airport.