Neha Patil (Editor)

Banjul International Airport

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Airport type
  
Public

Location
  
Banjul, Gambia

14/32
  
3,600

Address
  
Yundum, The Gambia

Elevation
  
29 m

Serves
  
Banjul

Elevation AMSL
  
29 m / 95 ft

3,600
  
11,811

Code
  
BJL

Phone
  
+220 447 3000

Banjul International Airport

Similar
  
Gambia Bird, Sheraton Gambia Hotel Res, Senegam Beach Hotel, Coco Ocean Resort

Heading to banjul international airport the gambia


Banjul International Airport, also known as Yundum International (IATA: BJL, ICAO: GBYD), is the international airport of Banjul, capital of the Gambia, built during World War II.

Contents

President adama barrow at banjul international airport


History

The only airport in Gambia is at Yundum, Post war Yundum airport was used for passenger flights. Both British South American Airways and the British Overseas Airways Corporation had services, the former moving its service to Dakar, which had a concrete runway (as opposed to pierced steel planking). The airport was rebuilt in 1963 and the building is still in use today.

Overview

The airport today has a number of amenities, including bars serving primarily snacks and drinks, as well as small shops selling local souvenirs and stalls representing local cell phone providers, all of which are before security. Airside facilities include a bar, restaurant and a number of duty-free stores selling primarily alcohol and other gifts. The head office of the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority is located on the airport property.

In the event of an emergency on any of the NASA Space Shuttles, Banjul International Airport had been selected as an augmented landing site. Gambia was the perfect location when the shuttle was launched with a low, 28-degree inclination. In 2001 NASA announced that Banjul airport would no longer be used as an augmented landing site because latterly, NASA would launch shuttles up at 51.6 degrees to the International Space Station, making air bases in Spain and France more suitable for an emergency landing.

The airport was the main hub of Gambia Bird until the airline ceased operations in late 2014.

Accidents and incidents

  • On 4 July 1946, a Bristol Freighter 170 registration G-AHJB flying from Bathurst (now Banjul) to Natal on a delivery flight to Argentina, due to fuel shortage, forced the crew to ditch the plane. The crewmembers were rescued by an American Steamer. The probable cause was powerplant failure resulting from shortage of fuel due to faulty navigation. No one died in the accident.
  • On 7 September 1946, a British South American Airways Avro 685 York I registration G-AHEW named "Star Leader" flying from London to Buenos Aires via Lisbon, Bathurst (Banjul)-Jeshwang, Natal, Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont and Montevideo lost control and crashed shortly after takeoff from Bathurst. The cause of the loss of control cannot be determined with certainty, but a mishandling of the controls by the captain is the most likely explanation. All 24 occupants died.
  • On 10 October 1997 a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air operated by NAYSA Aerotaxis crashed on approach 3 miles before the runway. All, but 1 of the 10 occupants died.

    • References

    Banjul International Airport Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA