Bassel Al-Assad International Airport

Latakia Bassel Al-Assad International Airport
مطار باسل الأسد الدولي

IATA: LTK – ICAO: OSLK
Summary
Airport type Public / Military
Serves Latakia, Syria
Location Jableh
Elevation AMSL 157 ft / 48 m
Coordinates 35°24′03″N 35°56′55″E / 35.40083°N 35.94861°E / 35.40083; 35.94861Coordinates: 35°24′03″N 35°56′55″E / 35.40083°N 35.94861°E / 35.40083; 35.94861
Map
LTK

Location of airport in Syria

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
17/35 2,797 9,175 Asphalt
Source: DAFIF[1][2]

Bassel al-Assad International Airport (Arabic: مطار باسل الأسد الدولي‎‎) (IATA: LTK, ICAO: OSLK) is an airport serving Latakia,[1] the principal port city of Syria. The airport is named for Bassel al-Assad (1962–1994), son of the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and brother of the current President Bashar al-Assad.

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 157 ft (48 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 17/35 with an asphalt surface measuring 2,797 m × 45 m (9,177 ft × 148 ft).[1]

Airlines and destinations

Destinations as of June 2015

AirlinesDestinations
AutoluxKiev–Boryspil[3]
Fly Damas Damascus[4]
Syrian Air[5]Abu Dhabi, Cairo, Doha, Damascus, Dubai, Jeddah, Kamishly, Kuwait, Moscow–Vnukovo,[6] Riyadh, Sharjah
UM AirlinesKiev–Boryspil

Military use

Main article: Khmeimim airbase

Adjacent to the civilian airport buildings is the Russian Khmeimim airbase, the principal Russian airbase being used in the air campaign in Syria since 30 September 2015. The name of the air base Хмеймим has been also transliterated as Hemeimeem Air Base and Hmeymin airbase. [7][8] Among the Russian servicemen posted, there are currently (early October 2015) around 600 members of the Russian Naval Infantry, whose role is to help provide security for the airbase.[9]

Russian military activity at Latakia Airport had been disclosed by American intelligence officials by early September 2015.[10] The same month, U.S. officials expressed concern about the Russian activities there.[11]

Russian Su-24 jet aircraft at Khmeimim Air Base, Syria

The Su-24 shot down by Turkish fighters on 24 November 2015 was said to be on its way back to Khmeimim.[12]

The base, operative since 30 September 2015, can handle Antonov An-124 and Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft. It has parking locations for more than 50 military aircraft including Su-24s, Su-25s, and Su-34s.[13][14] In addition, the base is home to T-90 tanks, BTR-82 vehicles, artillery and Mi-24 gunship helicopters and Mi-8 support choppers.

Air-conditioned accommodations were erected within a few months in 2015.[13] Other new structures include storage facilities, field kitchens, and refueling stations.[14] Supplies are flown in from Russia[13] or shipped via Tartus harbor 50 km away.[14]

On 26 November 2015, it was reported that S-400 surface-to-air missile weapon systems had been deployed by Russia.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Airport information for OSLK from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  2. ↑ Airport information for LTK at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
  3. ↑ Ukrainian airplane takes first flight to Syria among European airways after years of suspension
  4. ↑ JL. "Fly Damas W15 Operations". Airline Route. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Syrianair Flights June 2015
  6. ↑ "Seasonal Timetable". Vnukovo International Airport, JSC. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "Press-tour of the Russian and foreign Media representatives to the Hmeymim airbase in Syria". Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  8. ↑ John Wight (24 November 2015). "'Turkey good example of West's duplicity towards ISIS'". RT. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  9. ↑ Myers, Steven Lee; Schmitt, Eric (14 October 2015). "Russian Military Uses Syria as Proving Ground, and West Takes Notice". The New York Times. Online. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  10. ↑ Rob Crilly (5 September 2015). "Russia 'is building military base in Syria'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  11. ↑ Luis Martinez (9 September 2015). "Russian Build-Up Continues at Base in Syria, Causing Concern Among US Officials". ABC News. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  12. ↑ "Минобороны РФ: российский Су-24 сбили при возвращении на авиабазу в Сирии" (in Russian). Russian News Agency TASS. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 "Russian airbase in Syria: RT checks out everyday life at Latakia airfield". RT. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 "Report from the Syria Frontline". South Front. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  15. ↑ "Россия развернула в Сирии ЗРК С-400". Kommersant. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.

External links


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