Region
Baidoa Airport (Shatigadud International, BIB)
Baidoa Airport (IATA BIB, ICAO HCMB), also called Shatigadud International Airport, serves Baidoa, capital of Bay and seat of South West State. Built in the 1960s, its runway was paved and lengthened to 9,600 feet with Soviet help in 1974, and by 1975 it based Somali Air Force MiG-21 fighters. Today it has a 2,940-metre asphalt runway and a large military compound built in 2014.
At a glance
- Codes: IATA BIB, ICAO HCMB (OurAirports, HCMB).
- Runway: one asphalt runway, 04/22, 2,940 by 40 metres (9,646 by 131 feet) (Wikipedia, Baidoa Airport, citing the Logistics Cluster specification sheet).
- Height: Wikipedia gives 1,505 feet (459 metres) above sea level and OurAirports 1,820 feet (Wikipedia; OurAirports).
- City: Baydhabo (Baidoa), capital of the Bay region and seat of South West State.
- Name: Wikipedia gives its name as Shatigadud International Airport (Wikipedia), the name of Hassan Mohamed Nur Shatigadud, first president of South West State.
A military airfield, 1960s to 1991
The airport was built in the 1960s with a runway 8,800 feet long and 150 feet wide. In 1974, with Soviet support, it was resurfaced with asphalt and lengthened to 9,600 feet (Wikipedia). CIA photo-interpretation reports of the time tracked the work, and by June 1975 the base held at least six Somali Air Force MiG-21 fighters and two Il-28 bombers (same source, citing CIA reading room). For the air force's history see Somali Air Force.
The runway in three sizes
The same strip has been rebuilt at least twice, and the published lengths show it (Wikipedia; OurAirports):
- 1960s: 8,800 feet long and 150 feet wide, unpaved.
- 1974: asphalt, 9,600 feet long.
- Today: asphalt, 9,646 feet (2,940 metres) long and 131 feet (40 metres) wide.
Since 1991
For Baidoa's history in the war and famine years see Bay, UNOSOM I and the Rahanweyn Resistance Army. A large military compound was built at the airport in 2014 (Wikipedia); the forces based in the town include the Somali National Army and African Union troops, now AUSSOM.
Flights and aid
The airport has been used by both civil and military aircraft (Wikipedia). The UN Logistics Cluster, which coordinates humanitarian transport, publishes a specification sheet so aid operators can plan landings (Logistics Cluster). For the Somali carriers that serve the city see Airlines in Somalia.
Sources
- OurAirports, HCMB · ourairports.com
- Wikipedia, Baidoa Airport · en.wikipedia.org
- Logistics Cluster specification sheet · web.archive.org
- CIA reading room · cia.gov
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with Baidoa Airport (Shatigadud International, BIB)? Tell us what you can give.
I want to help with this
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Aden Adde International Airport, Mogadishu (MGQ)Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport (MGQ/HCMM): history since 1928, runway, airlines, operators, passenger numbers and the planned new airport.
- New Mogadishu International Airport (planned)The planned New Mogadishu International Airport at El Maan: site, runways, capacity, cost, World Bank-funded design study and timeline.
- Egal International Airport, Hargeisa (HGA)Hargeisa's Egal International Airport (HGA/HCMH): from the 1954 RAF field to the 2013 runway extension, wind power, airlines, cargo and traffic figures.
- Berbera International Airport (BBO)Berbera International Airport (BBO/HCMI): the Soviet-built 4 km runway, NASA Space Shuttle years, the 2015 terminal and the 2021 UAE-funded reopening.
- Bosaso Airport (Bender Qassim International, BSA)Bosaso's Bender Qassim International Airport (BSA/HCMF): 1980s strip, the 2008 Lootah deal, the 2014–2016 rebuild, runways, and the reported UAE hub role.
- Kismayo Airport (KMU)Kismayo Airport (KMU/HCMK): the 1970s runway, the 2013 Jubaland handover, the military and UN compounds, and the airport's data, with sources.