Islamabad International Airport

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Coordinates: 33°36′59″N 073°05′57″E / 33.61639, 73.09917

Islamabad 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 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.

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 [4]), nearly 5km from Islamabad. The construction of the new airport is underway and completion is estimated to be in 2010.

Contents

[edit] 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.[5] 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.

[edit] 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

[edit] Domestic

[edit] International

[edit] Cargo

[edit] Charter

[edit] Planned in 2008

[edit] Previous

[edit] Events

[edit] See also

[edit] 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. ^ New Islamabad Airport near Tarnol Soon
  5. ^ Islamabad International Airport: Rawal Lounge
  6. ^ Virgin Atlantic Operates Relief Flight To Islamabad, Pakistan

[edit] Further Reading

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] 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. ^ New Islamabad Airport near Tarnol Soon
  5. ^ Islamabad International Airport: Rawal Lounge
  6. ^ Virgin Atlantic Operates Relief Flight To Islamabad, Pakistan


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