Socotra Airport
Socotra Airport مطار سقطرى | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public / Military | ||||||||||
| Serves | Socotra | ||||||||||
| Location | Socotra, Socotra Governorate, Yemen | ||||||||||
| Opened | 1999 | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 45 m / 146 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 12°37′50″N 053°54′20″E / 12.63056°N 53.90556°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  SCT Location of airport in Yemen | |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Socotra Airport (Arabic:مطار سقطرى) is an airport in Socotra, Yemen (IATA: SCT, ICAO: OYSQ). It is the only commercial airport that serves the Yemeni island of Socotra in the Arabian Sea and its capital town of Hadibu.
History
[edit].jpg)
Flights were suspended in March 2015, due to the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.[1]
In April 2018, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) deployed more than a hundred troops with artillery and armoured vehicles to the Yemeni archipelago of Socotra in the Guardafui Channel without prior coordination with the Yemeni government, causing the relations of the two countries to deteriorate. During the occupation of Socotra, Emirati troops dismissed the Yemeni officials and took administrative control of the airport.[2][3]
The following month, an agreement was reached between the United Arab Emirates and Yemen where control of the airport returned to the Yemeni authorities.[4][5]
Flights have been operated illegally out of the airport to transfer Israeli tourists to the island following the occupation of the airport by the United Arab Emirates.[6][7]
Airlines and destinations
[edit]| Airlines | Destinations | Refs. |
|---|---|---|
| Air Arabia | Charter: Abu Dhabi1 | [8] |
| Yemenia | Aden, Mukalla | [9][10] |
^1 Operating illegally[11][12][13]
In popular culture
[edit]Socotra Airport was included as downloadable content (DLC) for the video game Microsoft Flight Simulator.[14]
Accidents and incidents
[edit]There have been no recorded accidents or incidents at Socotra Airport.[15] However, in 1992, a Yemeni Air Force Antonov An-12 which took off from Socotra Airport bound for Aden International Airport crashed at Bir Fabr in Abyan Governorate, killing all 58 occupants.[16]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Ghattas, Abir (31 March 2015). "Yemen's No Fly Zone: Thousands of Yemenis are Stranded Abroad". Global Voices. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "UAE forces 'occupy' sea and airports on Yemen's Socotra". Aljazeera. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Anger erupts on Yemen's Socotra as UAE deploys over 100 troops". Aljazeera. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Yemen PM: Crisis over UAE deployment to Socotra over". Al Jazeera. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Yemen, UAE Agree on Deal Over Socotra". Albawaba News. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Houthi gov't slams UAE over Israel tourists on Socotra and air base on Mayun island". Middle East Monitor. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Foreign tourists can finally visit Yemen's idyllic Socotra. Yemenis cannot". Middle East Eye. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Flight to Socotra: Your Gateway to a Hidden Paradise". socotrabooking.com. 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Schedule". instagram.com. 3 August 2022.
- ^ "YI420". flightradar24.com. 29 December 2024.
- ^ Staff, M. E. O. (2021-05-19). "Israeli tourists in Yemen's Socotra on holidays illegally run by UAE". Middle East Observer. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "Houthi gov't slams UAE over Israel tourists on Socotra and air base on Mayun island". June 2, 2021.
- ^ "Foreign tourists can finally visit Yemen's idyllic Socotra. Yemenis cannot". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "OYSQ Socotra Airport". orbx. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Socotra Airport profile". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Accident Antonov An-12, Tuesday 14 July 1992". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
