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Sana'a International Airport Passenger Reviews and Traveller Reports
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Sana'a In't Airport review by M Baughman
14 November 2007 Customer Rating : 
Better than I had expected, but you won't forget that Yemen is a developing country. Small terminal
but ample staff at Customs and Immigration. Both were friendly and professional and lines not out of
control in either direction. The airport check-in staff seem to work for all airlines as there are
not that many flights per day. They were also very friendly even though passengers could be a bit of
a handful (common in this part of world). Porters fairly aggressive, but will lay off without hard
feelings if you say "no." Don't wait for airport to buy souvenirs, everything is very expensive and
there's not much there anyway. The business lounge is clean and spacious and has a few drinks but
not much else I would trust to eat or drink. Main seating area not very comfortable.
Sana'a In't Airport review by Joćo Aleluia
16 December 2004 Customer Rating : n/a
Sanaa International was the worst airport I had the pleasure to be. Chaotic exit and entrance
(airport employees trying to take our luggage and immediately asking in a rude way for outrageous
tips) ,almost no information in English, unimaginable toilets, no information concerning flight
departures (gate, airline, boarding time). We had to be attentive to the call of an airport
employee for boarding... in Arabic, of course! And, not forgetting the
beauracratic procedures, even
if they are not as bad as in other countries. In the whole, a great lack of organization.
In compensation, yes, people are friendly as everywhere in Yemen.
Sana'a In't Airport review by Maikli Dar al-Bayda
21 October 2004
Not too bad at all actually. I'd heard before arriving that it was chaotic, but I found the
opposite. Having flown here twice (June/September 2000 and December 2001), I can say that the
immigration and customs staff were all very friendly both times, all very interested in what I
thought of Yemen and why I was here. I imagine it is somewhat different if your documents are not in
order though.
The check-in lounge is a bit weird. Friends and relatives can't officially enter the building with
you, as you have to go through a baggage search before checking in. However, my friends managed to
bribe the officials with money and qat, and came inside to say goodbye. Once you get past the
initial chaos at the front door, everything is quick and easy...or at least it is if you're foreign.
Being white means you check in first, which is an abominable system.
After check-in, you run the gauntlet of immigration. The officers are polite and friendly,
particularly if you speak Arabic (or try), and within minutes I found myself in the departure
lounge, which to be honest was quite attractive, with ornamental Yemeni stained glass windows
decorating the walls. A souvenir shop sold overpriced gifts, but had an amazing collection of Yemen
picture books. There was a cafe serving proper coffee (if you're a coffee addict and you've just
spent months drinking the Yemeni version of coffee, you'll know what I mean!), and it was all calm
and organised - until the flight was called, and pandemonium broke loose. Queueing is not a Yemeni
national sport, and boarding cards were checked on a basis of who shouts the loudest and who pushes
the hardest. Bonus points are given to those who sneak round the side, leaping acrobatically over
the barrier, it seems.
Sana'a International Airport is very Yemeni. That is meant as a compliment. Everyone is very
friendly and helpful, and there are quirky features like the "no qat chewing" signs and airport
staff having lengthy chats over the intercom system.
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