Najaf International Airport | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Private[1] | ||||||||||
| Operator | Najaf Airport Authority | ||||||||||
| Serves | Najaf,Iraq | ||||||||||
| Hub for | Iraqi Airways UR Airlines | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 103 ft / 31 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 31°59′23″N44°24′15″E / 31.98972°N 44.40417°E /31.98972; 44.40417 | ||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||
| Maps | |||||||||||
  NJF Location of airport in Iraq | |||||||||||
 Interactive map of Najaf International Airport | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2022) | |||||||||||
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| Source: ICAA,[2] COSIT.[3] | |||||||||||
Najaf International Airport (IATA:NJF;ICAO:ORNI) is aninternational airport servingNajaf,Iraq, and is located on the eastern side of the city. Formerly amilitary airbase, the airport consists of one asphaltrunway, measuring 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) long and 45 metres (148 ft) wide. The airport is expanding to provide four departure gates, two arrival gates, immigration and passenger services.
On 20 July 2008 the Najaf Authorities hosted the ceremonial opening attended by theIraqi Prime MinisterNouri Al-Maliki who stepped out of the first official plane.[4]
TheNajaf Governorate represented by the Deputy Governor Abd al-Husayn Abtan and Najaf Investment Commission[5] signed a Memorandum of Agreement dated 24 June 2008 with Al-Aqeelah Holding[6] authorizing it for one year to finalize the construction of the airport and five years subject to renewal to manage the airport. Currently Aqeeq Aviation Holding a subsidiary of Al-Aqeelah Holding is overseeing this.
The construction phase comprises the construction of the VIP lounge, Arrival and Departure Halls, Taxiway, Air cargo, purchasing all airport equipments including Ground Handling Equipments, technical supplies, Navigation Aids, Dining Facilities and lodging sites for employees.
Since 2009, more airlines have begun service to Najaf, includingGulf Air,Middle East Airlines,Qatar Airways,Syrian Air andTurkish Airlines.
In 2015 and 2016, Al Najaf International Airport was the busiest airport in Iraq by passenger traffic, but as of 2022 it ranks as the second-busiest, only behindBaghdad International Airport. However, it is still the busiest airport in the country byinternational passenger traffic.
| Year | Passengers | Cargo | Aircraft operations | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | %YoY | Tons | %YoY | Movements | %YoY | |
| 2015 | 2,783,444 | N.D. | N.D. | N.D. | 20,510 | N.D. |
| 2016 | 3,435,783 |  23.4% | 5.2 | N.D. | 27,652 | 34.8% |
| 2017 | 3,198,043 |  6.9% | 7.8 | 50.0% | 27,234 | 1.5% |
| 2018 | 2,793,219 | 12.7% | 8.6 | 10.3% | 22,835 | 16.2% |
| 2019 | 1,989,680 | 28.8% | 1.6 | 81.4% | 18,346 | 19.7% |
| 2020 | 272,770 | 86.3% | N.D. | 100.0% | 2,836 | 84.6% |
| 2021 | 885,264 | 224.5% | N.D. |  0.0% | 8,448 | 197.9% |
| 2022 | 2,686,074 | 203.4% | 24,174.7 | N.D. | 23,327 | 176.1% |
Source:COSIT. Air Transport Activity Statistics, years 2015,[16] 2016,[17] 2017,[18] 2018,[19] 2019,[20] 2020,[21] 2021[22] and 2022.[23]
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