Baghdad International Airport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Baghdad International Airport
مطار بغداد الدولي
Matar Baġdād ad-Dowaly
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| Airport type | Public / Military | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Iraqi Government | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Baghdad, Iraq | ||||||||||||||
| Hub for |
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| Elevation AMSL | 114 ft / 35 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 33°15′45″N 44°14′04″E / 33.26250°N 44.23444°E | ||||||||||||||
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 BGW
Location in Iraq
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| Runway | |||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2009) | |||||||||||||||
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Source: DAFIF
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Baghdad International Airport (BGW) is the largest international airport in Iraq. It was once known as Saddam International Airport. This important airport is located about 16 kilometers (10 miles) west of downtown Baghdad. It serves as a major gateway for people traveling to and from Iraq.
The airport is the main base for Iraqi Airways, which is Iraq's national airline. This means many of their flights start or end here. On January 3, 2020, an event took place near the airport involving a U.S. airstrike. This incident resulted in the deaths of Qasem Soleimani, a leader from Iran, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a commander from Iraq.
Contents
History of Baghdad Airport
Building a Modern Airport
Baghdad International Airport was built in the late 1970s. It was designed to be a very modern airport for its time. The airport officially opened in 1982. It was named Saddam International Airport after the president at that time.
Changes Over Time
For many years, the airport was a busy place. However, during different conflicts, it faced challenges. Flights were sometimes limited or stopped. After 2003, the airport was renamed Baghdad International Airport. It then began to reopen and welcome more flights.
Airport Operations
What Happens at the Airport?
Baghdad International Airport is a hub for many activities. It handles both passenger flights and cargo flights. This means it helps people travel and also moves goods around the world. The airport has several terminals for passengers. These terminals help people check in, go through security, and board their planes.
Runways and Air Traffic
The airport has two main runways. These are long, flat areas where planes take off and land. The runways are made of concrete. They are very long to support large airplanes. Air traffic controllers work at the airport. They guide planes safely in the sky and on the ground.
Importance of the Airport
Connecting Iraq to the World
Baghdad International Airport is vital for Iraq. It helps connect the country to other nations. This is important for business, tourism, and for families to visit each other. It also helps bring in supplies and send out goods.
A Hub for Travel
The airport is a main hub for several airlines. Besides Iraqi Airways, airlines like Al-Naser Airlines and FlyBaghdad also use it as a base. This makes it a busy place with many flights each day. In 2009, it was estimated that about 7.5 million passengers used the airport.
Images for kids
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Inside view of a terminal in 2003, showing a nonfunctional FIDS (note the red and white icon for the long-defunct East German airline Interflug on the fourth row from the bottom), in front of empty check-in desks and passport control
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Aerial view of Baghdad International Airport
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A flying carpet sculpture on the wall at Baghdad International Airport, 2011
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See also
In Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Bagdad para niños
