Pohang Gyeongju Airport

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Pohang Gyeongju Airport 포항경주공항
IATA: KPO ICAO: RKTH
Summary
Airport type	Public / Military
Owner	Ministry Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Operator	Korea Airports Corporation Republic of Korea Navy United States Marine Corps
Serves	Pohang Gyeongju
Location	Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
Opened	February 1970; 54 years ago (1970-02)
Elevation AMSL	75 ft / 23 m
Coordinates	35°59′16″N 129°25′13″E / 35.98778°N 129.42028°E / 35.98778; 129.42028
Website	www.airport.co.kr/pohangeng
Map
KPO/RKTH Show map of South Korea KPO/RKTH Show map of Asia KPO/RKTH Show map of North Pacific KPO/RKTH Show map of Earth
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 10/28 2,134 7,000 Concrete
Statistics (2019)
Passengers 93,769 Aircraft Movements 1,162 Cargo Tonnage 395
Source:KAC[1]

Pohang Gyeongju Airport (IATA: KPO, ICAO: RKTH) is an airport in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. In 2011, 255,227 passengers used the airport.^[1]

Pohang Airfield was originally developed during the Japanese Imperial period.

In early July 1950 Pohang airfield was identified as a potential base for USAF operations. On 7 July, Brigadier-General Timberlake deputy-commander of the Fifth Air Force ordered the development of the base. Company A 802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion landed at Pohang and began improving the airfield on 12 July by added a 500 feet (150 m) PSP extension and building hardstands for 27 F-51 Mustangs.^[2] The airfield was designated by the USAF as K-3.

Troops of the Korean People's Army (KPA) 12th Division infiltrated the Pohang area in early August and made guerilla attacks against the airfield. By 12 August KPA troops entered Pohang and so on 13 August the 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group evacuated to Tsuiki Air Field in Japan. ROK and U.S. forces routed the KPA several days later, but the continued presence of guerilla units mitigated against an early return to the base.^[2]: 124

USAF units based there from July–August 1950 included:

• 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group from 14 July-13 August 1950^[2]: 112 subordinate units included:
  • 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron operating F-51s from 8–13 August 1950^[2]: 112
  • 40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron operating F-51s from 16 July-13 August 1950^[2]: 95
• 6131st Air Base Squadron (later 6131st Tactical Support Wing) from 14 July 1950^[2]: 95

The 802nd Battalion returned to Pohang on 27 September finding the airfield relatively undamaged. The 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group returned to Pohang on 3 October. On 12 October No. 77 Squadron RAAF operating F-51s arrived at Pohang.^[2]: 178

In July 1953 the United States Navy deployed two AJ (A-2) Savage aircraft to K-3 as a nuclear deterrent in the final days of the Korean War.^[3]

In October 2008 the United States Navy relocated a permanent detachment of MH-53E Sea Dragons assigned to HM-14 from Iwakuni, Japan. This detachment provides Seventh Fleet with a forward-deployed AMCM and heavy-lift asset. Because Pohang Gyeongju Airport is sharing with military, taking photograph or video of apron, runway and military facility is strictly prohibited.

in the 1970, Pohang Airfield developed capacity for civil operations. ^[4] Civil operations begain in 1986 with a route from Seoul route operated by Korean Air. ^[4]

In the 1990s, Asiana Airlines started flights to Pohang Airport, its passenger terminal was expanded, and a new terminal was opened in June 2002. ^[4] On 15 March 1999, Pohang Airport was the destination of Korean Air Flight 1533, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 which was flying from Seoul to Pohang. The flight overshot the runway during landing at Pohang Airport. All 156 people on board survived, but the aircraft was destroyed. The accident was the 11th hull loss of a McDonnell Douglas MD-80. ^[1]

In January 2014, Pohang Airport was closed due to its runway having to be repaved.^[5] This was completed in May 2016. ^[6]

In 2020, Pohang and Gyeongju cities submitted a proposal to change the name of the airport from Pohang Airport to Pohang Gyeongju Airport to Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. ^[7] In 2022, government approval for the request was granted and the airport received its current name, Pohang Gyeongju Airport.^[8]

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Annual passenger traffic at KPO airport. See Wikidata query.

• No. 200 : Yangdeok ↔ Lotte Department Store ↔ Jukdo Market ↔ POSCO ↔ Pohang Gyeongju Airport ↔ Guryongpo

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

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