Islamabad International Airport

All you want to know about Islamabad International Airport

Islamabad (Benazir Bhutto) International Airport
Chaklala Airbase

IATA: ISB – ICAO: OPRN
Summary
Airport type Public / Military
Operator Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
Serves Islamabad
Location Rawalpindi, Punjab
Elevation AMSL 1,688 ft / 508 m
Website islamabadairport.com.pk
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
12/30 3,287 10,785 Asphalt
Sources: AIP Pakistan[1] and DAFIF[2][3]

Islamabad (Benazir Bhutto) International Airport or Chaklala Airbase (Urdu: چکلالہ) (IATA: ISB, ICAO: OPRN) is the third largest civil airport in Pakistan, it is located in Rawalpindi, in the province of Punjab. In fiscal year 2004-2005, over 2.8 million passengers used Islamabad International Airport. 23,436 aircraft movements were registered.[1] The airfield is shared with the transport and liaison squadrons of the Pakistan Air Force. On Saturday, 20 June, 2008, at the 55th birthday of Benazir Bhutto, which was the first after her assassination, Islamabad International Airport, has been renamed as Benazir Bhutto International Airport.[4] [5]

The airport is actually located outside of Islamabad, closer to the city of Rawalpindi, in an area known as Chaklala. Being the main airport for the Pakistani capital it often hosts officials and citizens from other nations.

Due to the ever-growing need for better facilities and services available for passengers, The Government of Pakistan is working with foreign construction companies to develop a world-class airport in Islamabad, New Islamabad International Airport. It has been estimated that the airport will be the biggest in Pakistan. The new location of the Islamabad International Airport has been selected at Fateh Jang (or at Tarnol, as reported by other sources [6]), nearly 5km from Islamabad. The construction of the new airport is underway and completion is estimated to be in 2010.

Contents

Structure

The baggage claim for international passengers at the airport
The baggage claim for international passengers at the airport

Situated outside the capital city of Pakistan, Islamabad International Airport handles VIP passengers who are foreign diplomats and high government or military officials. Rawal lounges have been designated for use by such passengers. It provides an executive environment with all the required facilities.[7] There are separate lounges for international and domestic economy passengers. The domestic and international lounges have been provided all the required facilities that include snack bars, public telephone and internet services. There are also lounges for transit passengers who may be travelling further internationally or domestically. The lounges also have designated prayer areas. The CIP/VIP lounge can be used by first and business class passengers travelling on international or domestic flights. Passengers have to be issued an airline card from the check-in staff. It costs six dollars per passenger and one hundred rupees for domestic passengers. There are also televisions, newspapers and magazines, telephones, fax and free internet. Passengers who are searching for banks that have credit card facilities can use the Askari Bank.

The airport has a wide variety of duty-free shops, restuarants, free wireless internet services and a souvenir shop. The current airport is able to handle eleven wide body aircraft at one time, with additional five parking places for light general aviation aircraft. At the moment, the airport does not have any air bridges installed at the airport, so buses take the passengers from the airport terminal to the aircraft where air stairs are used.

There are many televisions and mobile connecting points in the terminal to allow passengers to check flight times and charge their mobiles. There are a string of financial exchange counters and national banks such as National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank and MCB Bank Ltd. MCB has also launched ATM machines that can be used for most banks in Pakistan by international passengers.

Airlines and destinations

Rawalpindi acts as a secondary hub for the national flag carrier, PIA
Rawalpindi acts as a secondary hub for the national flag carrier, PIA

Domestic

International

Cargo

Charter

Planned in 2008

Previous

Events

  • On July 9, 1971, National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger flew from Islamabad International Airport to meet with Zhou Enlai of China.
  • On February 15, 2002, Erik Audé was arrested at Islamabad International Airport for opium possession.
  • During October 2005, Islamabad handled additional aircraft that provided aid for the affected people of Kashmir after the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. The largest of these aircraft was the An-225 Myria. Virgin Atlantic Airways also operated a special relief flight to Islamabad using a Boeing 747 with 55 tonnes of aid. [8]
  • On the account of the late Benazir Bhutto's 55th birthday on 21st June, 2008, Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani changed the name of Islamabad International Airport to Benazir Bhutto International Airport.

See also

References

  1. ^ AIP Pakistan: OPRN – ISLAMABAD / Chaklala International
  2. ^ Airport information for OPRN at World Aero Data. Source: DAFIF.
  3. ^ Airport information for ISB at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF.
  4. ^ Dawn.com
  5. ^ Reuters - Pakistan renames capital's airport after Bhutto
  6. ^ New Islamabad Airport near Tarnol Soon
  7. ^ Islamabad International Airport: Rawal Lounge
  8. ^ Virgin Atlantic Operates Relief Flight To Islamabad, Pakistan

Further Reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

References

  1. ^ AIP Pakistan: OPRN – ISLAMABAD / Chaklala International
  2. ^ Airport information for OPRN at World Aero Data. Source: DAFIF.
  3. ^ Airport information for ISB at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF.
  4. ^ Dawn.com
  5. ^ Reuters - Pakistan renames capital's airport after Bhutto
  6. ^ New Islamabad Airport near Tarnol Soon
  7. ^ Islamabad International Airport: Rawal Lounge
  8. ^ Virgin Atlantic Operates Relief Flight To Islamabad, Pakistan


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