Benazir Bhutto International Airport

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

Benazir Bhutto International Airport بینظیر بھٹّو بین الاقوامی ہواگاہ (IATA: ISB, ICAO: OPRN) is the third largest airport in Pakistan, it is located in Rawalpindi, Punjab. It was previously known as Islamabad International Airport but was renamed after assassinated PM Benazir Bhutto by PM Yusuf Raza Gillani on Friday, 21 June 2008.^[4]

The airport is actually located outside of Islamabad, in the area of Chaklala Rawalpindi. Being the main airport for the Pakistani capital it often hosts officials and citizens from other nations. The airfield is shared with the transport and liaison squadrons of the Pakistan Air Force.

Due to the ever-growing need for better facilities and services available for passengers, The Government of Pakistan is constructing a new airport in Islamabad. 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^[5]), nearly 5 km from Islamabad. The construction of the new airport is underway and completion is estimated to be in 2010. In fiscal year 2007-2008, over 4.8 million passengers used Benazir Bhutto International Airport. 49,775 aircraft movements were registered. The airport serves as a focus city for the flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines. It is also the hub of Shaheen Air International and a focus city of Airblue.

Structure

The international baggage claim area, photographed 2006.

Benazir Bhutto International Airport is a civil and military airport which handles VIPs as well as public scheduled operations for many airlines. Foreign diplomats, high government officials as well as military officials are welcomed at this airport. The Rawal Lounge has been designated for use of these high profile personalities.^[6]

There are separate lounges for international and domestic economy passengers. The domestic and international lounges have been provided with facilities that include snack bars, satellite TV, public telephones 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 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. The cost is USD 6.00 per international passenger and 100 rupees for domestic passengers. There are also light savoury snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, satellite TVs, newspapers and magazines, telephones, fax facilities, and wireless internet. Passengers who require banks offer credit card facilities as well as ATMs. Askari Bank is a major bank located within this lounge.

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

There are numerous television monitors and mobile connecting points in the terminal to allow passengers to check flight times and recharge their phones. There are a string of financial exchange counters and commercial banks such as National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank Ltd, and MCB Bank Ltd. MCB and Royal Bank of Scotland (formerly ABN AMRO) have also launched ATMs that are linked to the global MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro networks.

To meet safety and health issues, the airport has also newly opened "Smoke Zones" within the lounge facilities. These are designated glass smoke boxes where passengers are allowed to smoke. The smoke is sucked out using the air conditioning so no smoke armours remain or spread within the airport lounges. The design is similar to the ones seen at various international airports.

Airlines and destinations

Domestic

Airblue A321 at Benazir Bhutto International Airport.

A British Airways Boeing 777 being prepared for a flight to London Heathrow. BA suspended operations to Islamabad in 2008 but is resuming Pakistan operations in March 2010

International

Cargo

Accidents and incidents

• On 18 May 1959, Vickers Viscount AP-AJC of Pakistan International Airlines was damaged beyond economic repair on landing at Islamabad International Airport.^[7]

See also

• New Islamabad International Airport
• List of airports in Pakistan
• Airlines of Pakistan
• Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
• Transport in Pakistan

References

Further reading

• Ground breaking ceremony of new Islamabad airport likely in April, Business Recorder (Pakistan's Financial Daily Newspaper), 2005-03-03.
• CAA initiates $300m new Islamabad airport (NIIA), Pakistan Link Headline News, 2006-01-07.
• CAA initiates $300m new Islamabad airport project, The News Business Section, 2006-01-07.
• New Islamabad International Airport ready for ground breaking Ceremony, PakTribune, 2006-02-07.
• Turkish Airlines wants to operate daily flights to Karachi, The News, 2007-07-10.
• Progress in THY's Pakistan flights, Turkish Daily News, 2007-07-19.
• SkyscraperCity Pakistan: Islamabad International Airport Updates

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Benazir Bhutto International Airport

• Islamabad International Airport, official web site
• Current weather for OPRN at NOAA/NWS
• Accident history for ISB at Aviation Safety Network
• Airport information for OPRN at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.

References

Coordinates: 33°36′59″N 73°05′57″E / 33.61639°N 73.09917°E / 33.61639; 73.09917