Daegu International Airport

Daegu International Airport (IATA: TAE, ICAO: RKTN) is an international airport serving the city of Daegu and the surrounding area in southeastern South Korea. The airport is also a military base for the ROKAF's 11th Fighter Wing, whose three squadrons fly the F-15K.

Daegu International Airport

대구국제공항
Summary
Airport typePublic / Military
OwnerMinistry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Operator
ServesDaegu and North Gyeongsang
LocationDong District, Daegu, South Korea
Opened1 April 1961; 63 years ago (1961-04-01)
Hub forT'way Air
Built31 January 1937; 87 years ago (1937-01-31)
Elevation AMSL116 ft / 35 m
Coordinates35°53′39″N 128°39′32″E / 35.89417°N 128.65889°E / 35.89417; 128.65889
Websitewww.airport.co.kr/daegueng/main.do
Map
TAE/RKTN is located in South Korea
TAE/RKTN
TAE/RKTN
Location of airport in South Korea
TAE/RKTN is located in Asia
TAE/RKTN
TAE/RKTN
TAE/RKTN (Asia)
TAE/RKTN is located in North Pacific
TAE/RKTN
TAE/RKTN
TAE/RKTN (North Pacific )
TAE/RKTN is located in Earth
TAE/RKTN
TAE/RKTN
TAE/RKTN (Earth)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
13L/31R 2,743 8,999 Concrete
13R/31L 2,755 9,039 Asphalt concrete
Statistics (2019)
Passengers4,669,057
Aircraft movements31,236
Tonnes of cargo34,718
Statistics from KAC[1]
Daegu International Airport
Hangul
대구국제공항
Hanja
大邱國際空港
Revised RomanizationDaegu Gukje Gonghang
McCune–ReischauerTaegu Kukche Konghang

Overview

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The airport chiefly serves domestic routes with a small number of international flights. Despite the growth of the nearby city of Daegu, passenger numbers at Daegu International Airport have been steadily declining since 2004, the year when KTX highspeed rail reached the city. The 2013 number of about 1.1 million passengers is around half of pre-2003 figures. Since 2014, passenger numbers have increased sharply due to the expansion of low-cost carriers. Because Daegu Airport is shared with the military, taking photographs or video of the apron, the runway or the military facility is strictly prohibited.

History

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Daegu International Airport was originally established under Japanese rule as Taegu Airfield on 31 January 1937.[2]

Korean War

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At the outbreak of the Korean War, the airfield consisted of a dirt and gravel runway and two concrete buildings.[3] The airfield was designated by the USAF as K-2.

The airfield was used as part of the Bout One project, an emergency program to train Republic of Korea Air Force pilots to fly the F-51 Mustang. The Bout One planes provided close air support to the U.S. 24th Infantry Division through July 1950.[3]: 89–90  On 10 July 1950, the Bout One force was re-designated as the 51st Fighter Squadron,[3]: 95  and was merged into the 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 4 August.[3]: 112 

The existing dirt and gravel runway was improved by the 822nd Engineer Aviation Battalion beginning on 18 July, and the Battalion subsequently began preparations for a parallel 5,000 foot (1,500 m) PSP (perforated steel planks) runway on 7 August.[3]: 110 

USAF units based at Taegu from July–August 1950 included:

Taegu Airfield was abandoned following the North Korean attack on Taegu in mid-August 1950, but USAF units began reoccupying the base by 23 September 1950.[3]: 176  The 822nd Battalion had returned to Taegu on 17 September and soon resurfaced the original dirt and gravel runway with PSP and extended its length to 5,700 feet (1,700 m).[3]: 177 

USAF units based at Taegu from September 1950 included:[3]: 177 

In May 1951, the 930th Engineer Aviation Group began repair work on the PSP runway and commenced construction of a 9,000 feet (2,700 m) concrete runway.[3]: 395 

Postwar

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Passenger facilities

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Daegu Airport International Terminal interior

Daegu Airport consists of 2 separate terminals: Domestic Terminal and International Terminal. The relatively small passenger terminal (International Terminal) boasts a comfortable environment through its adoption of traditional design elements symbolizing Ouga (The song of five friends: water, rock, pine, bamboo, and moon; by Yun Son-Do), and its crane-like structure. The parking lot can accommodate about 1,097 cars and has a fully automated parking system; it is open from 6 am to 10 pm.[4]

Airlines and destinations

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AirlinesDestinations
Asiana Airlines Jeju
Beijing Capital Airlines Huangshan[5]
China Eastern Airlines Shanghai–Pudong
Jeju Air Cebu, Jeju
Jin Air Jeju, Taipei–Taoyuan[6]
Korean Air Jeju,[7] Seoul–Incheon1
Sichuan Airlines Zhangjiajie[8]
T'way Air Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Da Nang, Fukuoka,[9] Jeju, Nha Trang, Osaka–Kansai, Taipei–Taoyuan, Tokyo–Narita, Yanji
Seasonal: Ulaanbaatar,[10] Zhangjiajie
VietJet Air Charter: Nha Trang (begins 27 October 2024)[11]

^1 Korean Air's service between Daegu and Incheon is available only to passengers flying internationally to/from South Korea with Korean Air[12]

Statistics

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Traffic by calendar year

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Annual passenger traffic at TAE airport. See Wikidata query.
Traffic by calendar year
Passenger volume Aircraft operations Cargo tonnage
2001 2,214,613 18,511 17,564
2002 2,274,901 19,984 19,825
2003 2,228,550 20,729 20,823
2004 1,567,678 15,021 22,803
2005 1,236,446 11,837 20,565
2006 1,194,150 11,111 19,898
2007 1,177,490 10,997 19,619
2008 1,079,011 9,691 18,247
2009 1,026,203 8,257 17,669
2010 1,148,953 8,287 18,526
2011 1,178,212 8,489 19,724
2012 1,110,290 8,413 18,352
2013 1,084,585 8,794 16,383
2014 1,537,328 11,832 18,808
2015 2,027,626 14,369 20,480
2016 2,533,132 17,089 24,341
2017 3,560,124 23,191 32,031
2018 4,062,833 26,800 33,267
2019 4,669,057 31,236 34,718
2020 1,749,396 12,990 11,050
2021 2,048,365 13,294 10,583
2022 2,255,883 13,472 12,394
2023 3,302,107 20,244 22,077
Source: Korea Airports Corporation Traffic Statistics[13]

Access

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The airport is 1.34 km from Ayanggyo Station (Daegu Subway Line 1) and can be reached by bus or taxi.

Accidents and incidents

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  • On 26 May 2023, a male passenger opened the door of an Asiana Airbus A321 just a few minutes before landing. The plane made a safe landing; however, a number of people had injuries. The man was arrested by authorities. [14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "공항별 통계 : 항공통계 : 알림·홍보 : Kac 한국공항공사". Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  2. ^ Notice no. 40, 1937, Government-General of Korea. (in Japanese) JPNO 00084180 doi:10.11501/2959525
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Futrell, Frank (1983). The United States Air Force in Korea, 1950–1953 (PDF). Air Force History & Museums Program. p. 89. ISBN 9780912799711.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ "Information for parking lot". Archived from the original on 15 March 2008.
  5. ^ "Beijing Capital Adds 2 Tunxi – Korea Routes From mid-Sep 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  6. ^ "JIN AIR ADDS DAEGU – TAIPEI SERVICE FROM LATE-DEC 2022". Aeroroutes. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  7. ^ ""국내선 지방/제주 운항 재개"". Koreanair. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Mainland Chinese Carriers NS23 International / Regional Network – 14MAY23". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  9. ^ "T'Way Air NW22 Japan Operations – 27OCT22". Aeroroutes. 27 October 2022.
  10. ^ "T'Way Air Adds Daegu – Ulaanbaatar Service From late-July 2023". AeroRoutes. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Vietjet to launch new route connecting Nha Trang with South Korea's Daegu". e.vnexpress.net. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Korean Air Resumes Incheon – Daegu Service From April 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  13. ^ "KAC 한국공항공사"
  14. ^ "Passenger held after Asiana plane door opens mid-air". 26 May 2023.

  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force

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