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Islamabad International Airport

Airport serving the Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area of Pakistan

Islamabad International Airport

Airport serving the Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area of Pakistan

FieldValue
nameIslamabad International Airport
nativename
imageLogo of Islamabad International Airport.jpg
image-width250
image2Islamabad International Airport 2022.jpg
image2-width250
IATAISB
ICAOOPIS
typePublic
owner-operPakistan Civil Aviation Authority
city-servedIslamabad-Rawalpindi region
locationFateh Jang-45260, Punjab, Pakistan
opened
hubPakistan International Airlines
operating_baseSereneAir
metric-elevyes
elevation-f1761
elevation-m537
coordinates
website
r1-number10R/28L
r1-length-m3657.6
r1-surfaceAsphalt
r2-number10L/28R
r2-length-m3657.6
r2-surfaceAsphalt
metric-rwyyes
stat-year2023
stat1-headerPassengers
stat1-data6 million
stat2-header
stat3-headerDomestic Passengers
stat3-data1.5 million
stat4-headerInternational Passengers
stat4-data4.5 million
stat5-headerAircraft movements
stat5-data31,000
footnotesSources of statistics: Hum News, PCAA,

| image-width = 250 | image2-width = 250 | owner-oper = Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority | city-served = Islamabad-Rawalpindi region | metric-elev = yes | elevation-f = 1761 | elevation-m = 537 | r1-number = 10R/28L | r1-length-m = 3657.6 | r1-surface = Asphalt | r2-number = 10L/28R | r2-length-m = 3657.6 | r2-surface = Asphalt | metric-rwy = yes | stat-year = 2023 | stat1-header = Passengers | stat1-data = 6 million | stat2-header = | stat2-data = | stat3-header = Domestic Passengers | stat3-data = 1.5 million | stat4-header = International Passengers | stat4-data = 4.5 million | stat5-header = Aircraft movements | stat5-data = 31,000

Islamabad International Airport () () is an international airport serving Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, and Rawalpindi. It is located 25 km south-west of Islamabad, and is directly connected to the Lahore and Peshawar motorways as well to the capital city Islamabad via Srinagar Highway.

The airport commenced full operations on 6 May 2018, replacing the Benazir Bhutto International Airport which now serves as PAF Base Nur Khan. It is the largest airport in Pakistan in terms of cargo, area and passenger capacity, capable of serving 9 million passengers annually. Further expansions in the future will allow it to serve up to 25 million passengers annually. It became the busiest airport in Pakistan in terms of total passenger traffic in the fiscal year 2024-2025, surpassing Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. The terminal includes 15 gates with ten remote gates, duty-free shops, a food court and 42 immigration counters. Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority is acquiring 2,833 acres (11.46 km2 / 4.42 sq mi) of land to build a third runway. It is the first airport in Pakistan that has double airbridges capable of handling the Airbus A380. New Gwadar International is the second, followed by Jinnah International Airport, which will be able to accommodate the A380 after its main runway reconstruction, and followed by Allama Iqbal International Airport where the main runway can handle an A380. The airport is a hub for Pakistan International Airlines and SereneAir.

History

Islamabad International Airport view from Parking Area

Development

Construction of the Islamabad International Airport (ICAO: OPIS) began on 7 April 2007. It was formally inaugurated on 20 April 2018 for regular international and domestic flights.

The plan to construct a new airport was announced in January 2005 by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. A land of 3242 acre land was acquired at the cost of Rs. 2.5 billion in November 2005.

The new airport was planned in response to increasing air traffic and passenger loads at the existing Benazir Bhutto International Airport. It was estimated that the number of passengers at the former airport was growing by 14 percent annually compared to the national air passenger growth rate of 4 percent, making it the second-busiest airport in the country at the time. Therefore, a site in Pind Ranjha, Attock District was selected as the site for the construction of a new airport just a few kilometres from the Islamabad interchange on M-1/M-2 motorways. The foundation stone of the project was laid by former President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on 7 April 2007.

It was a project of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and designed by French company Aéroports de Paris Ingenierie (ADPi) and CPG Corporation of Singapore. The whole project was financed by PCAA on its own. It is built on more than 3200 acre of land and consists of a passenger terminal building, two runways, four taxiways, and apron and parking bays for wide-body aircraft. There is also a cargo terminal, air traffic control complex, and fuel farm, as well as a fire, crash, and rescue facility. The site of the airport is near Fateh Jang Tehsil of Attock District. It is 25 km equidistant from Zero Point, Islamabad and from Saddar, Rawalpindi. The airport is on par with international standards, and serves as a major hub for all aviation activities in Pakistan. The PCAA asked a team of British architects to design the new airport. PCAA signed an agreement with the Louis Berger Group in the US in association with Pakistani consulting firm GT AASR, to undertake project management services. The airport was to be completed in five years but took 12 years to complete, resulting in a three times increase in cost. MM Pakistan (MMP) and Mott Macdonald Ltd. were tasked to undertake the project management services from the previous consultants, and were successful in completing this troubled project.

Operations

On 7 April 2018, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) successfully conducted the inaugural test flight from Benazir Bhutto International Airport to Islamabad International Airport, piloted by Captain Masood Bijrani and First Officer Hamad Khan. The aircraft landed at the New Islamabad International Airport to assess the facility's operational readiness, including airport systems, passenger handling by PIA staff and crew, as well as coordination with customs, the Airport Security Force, and other relevant agencies.

On 1 May 2018, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi officially inaugurated the new airport. This was followed up with the airport commencing full commercial flight operations on 3 May 2018 and thus replacing the old airport.

On 8 July 2018, the first Airbus A380 landed in Islamabad, arriving as one-off Emirates flight EK-2524 from Dubai International Airport. This was the first time an Airbus A380 flight landed in Pakistan.

Virgin Atlantic flew their first flight to Islamabad on 10 December 2020 with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Virgin Atlantic ended their service to Islamabad on 9 July 2023.

As of 2023, Pakistan International Airlines has moved its international hub from Karachi's Jinnah International Airport to Islamabad International Airport, better reflecting the origin of its international passengers.

Controversies

Outsourcing management and operations

On 31 December 2022, the Government of Pakistan announced its decision to outsource the management of Islamabad International Airport to international operators as part of an initiative to encourage foreign investment. The Islamabad airport, along with other major airports, is slated to be managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. This move aims to boost government revenue and enhance facilities, offering improved services for international travellers. In October 2024, the government's 15-year lease award for Islamabad International Airport has sparked controversy, with allegations of favouritism after one bidder was reportedly barred from participating.

Facilities

Domestic Arrivals
Interior of domestic arrivals
International departure area

Islamabad International Airport has a 180000 m2 modular terminal building which is capable of handling 9 million passengers and 80,000 metric tons of cargo per annum. The numbers are expected to reach 25 million passengers by 2024. Being a new airport, a significant portion of the land has been earmarked for commercial purposes such as duty-free shops, a hotel and convention centre, air malls, a business centre, food courts, and leisure and cinema facilities.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Islamabad International Airport: |Aero Nomad Airlines | Bishkek |Air Arabia | Ras Al Khaimah |Ariana Afghan Airlines | Kabul |Air China | Beijing–Capital | Airblue | Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Dubai–International, Karachi, Jeddah, Riyadh, Sharjah |AirSial | Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Dubai–International, Jeddah, Karachi, Muscat, Riyadh |Azerbaijan Airlines | Baku |British Airways | London–Gatwick |China Southern Airlines | Guangzhou, Kashgar, Ürümqi |Emirates | Dubai–International |Etihad Airways | Abu Dhabi |Fly Jinnah | Bahrain, Dammam, Jeddah, Karachi, Quetta, Riyadh, Sharjah |Flyadeal | Riyadh |Flydubai | Dubai–International |Flynas | Riyadh |Gulf Air | Bahrain | Iran Airtour | Tehran–Imam Khomeini |Iraqi Airways | Baghdad, Najaf |Jazeera Airways | Kuwait City |Kam Air | Kabul |Kuwait Airways | Kuwait City |Mahan Air|Tehran–Imam Khomeini |Pakistan International Airlines | Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Baku, Beijing–Capital, Chitral, Dammam, Doha, Dubai–International, Gassim, Gilgit, Istanbul, Jeddah, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur–International, London–Heathrow (resumes 29 March 2026), Manchester, Medina, Muscat, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Quetta, Riyadh, Skardu, Sukkur, Toronto–Pearson |Qatar Airways | Doha |SalamAir | Muscat |Saudia | Jeddah, Riyadh |SereneAir | Beijing–Daxing, Dubai–International, Karachi, Medina, Quetta, Sharjah (all suspended) |Somon Air | Dushanbe |Thai Airways International | Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi |Turkish Airlines | Istanbul |Uzbekistan Airways | Tashkent : Air China's flight from Islamabad to Beijing makes a stopover in Karachi. However, the airline has no traffic rights to transport passengers solely between Islamabad and Karachi.

Cargo

AirlineDestinationsNotes
Turkish CargoIstanbulOperated on passenger flights
SF AirlinesUrumqi2x weekly on Boeing 757-200PCF
TCS CourierKarachi, Lahore
Qatar CargoDohaOperated on passenger flights

Ground transport

Road

The airport is connected to Islamabad via the Srinagar Highway and Rawalpindi via the GT Road (Highway N-5). A four-lane highway was constructed to serve cargo traffic. The Srinagar Highway is also connected to M-1 Motorway, providing another connection to the airport from Peshawar, Chiamkiani, Nowshera, Risalpur, Jehangira, Lawrencepur, Burhan Attock and Fateh Jang.

Public transportation

A metrobus rapid transit service, which commenced operations on 18 April 2022, connects the airport with Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Accidents and incidents

There are no reported accidents at this airport currently.

References

Bibliography

References

  1. "PCAA | Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority".
  2. (1 May 2018). "First pictures: New Islamabad airport opens, to handle up to 25m flyers a year". GulfNews.com.
  3. "PAC warns of using 2 runways of new Islamabad Airport at a time".
  4. "Islamabad Airport sets record with six million passengers".
  5. "Islamabad Airport records highest ever passenger movement in 2023".
  6. (3 May 2018). "New Islamabad airport finally operational after years of delay". [[The Nation (Pakistan)]].
  7. "Islamabad International Airport - IIAP - اسلام آباد انٹرنیشنل ائیرپورٹ".
  8. (2016-06-19). "New Islamabad airport: Rs3 billion allocated for road network".
  9. Asghar, Mohammad. (2018-04-06). "First plane to land at new Islamabad airport tomorrow".
  10. Khan, Aftab. (2025-01-30). "Karachi airport's runway upgraded for large aircraft landings".
  11. (11 April 2005). "New Islamabad Airport to be built at Fateh Jang". [[Business Recorder]].
  12. (15 November 2007). "Land for Islamabad airport acquired". [[Business Recorder]].
  13. Wasif, Sehrish. (2010-10-01). "Islamabad airport to be complete by 2013: Shuja".
  14. (2012-09-03). "New Islamabad airport: delays, cost over-runs".
  15. (14 April 2013). "New BB Airport to open in June next year: Asif Yasin". The News.
  16. "Benazir Bhutto New Islamabad International Airport, Pakistan".
  17. "Mott MacDonald - MM Pakistan JV | LinkedIn".
  18. APP. (2018-04-07). "PIA test flight lands safely at New Islamabad International Airport".
  19. Sikander, Sardar. (2018-05-01). "Launched: Islamabad joins league of top airports".
  20. (2018-07-08). "Dubai's Emirates flies one-off A380 to Pakistan's Islamabad".
  21. "Emirates announces one-off A380 service into Islamabad, Pakistan".
  22. "Virgin makes Pakistan debut with Manchester flight".
  23. "Virgin Atlantic suspends services to Pakistan".
  24. Hanif, Usman. (2019-08-06). "PIA shifts hub of int'l flights to Islamabad".
  25. "Pakistan - Outsources the management and operation of the three major international airports to foreign investors | Investment Policy Monitor | UNCTAD Investment Policy Hub".
  26. Afzal, Areej. (9 October 2024). "Privatization of Islamabad International Airport becomes controversial as only one bidder allowed to participate".
  27. "Benazir Bhutto New Islamabad International Airport, Pakistan". Airport Technology.
  28. (2025-11-28). "Airblue launches Islamabad-Dammam direct flight".
  29. (2020-11-29). "AirSial expected to start operations in Pakistan next month, first plane lands in Karachi". Geo.tv.
  30. "AirSial Adds Islamabad – Riyadh From late-Oct 2024". Aeroroutes.
  31. (17 August 2023). "Azerbaijan Airlines Launches Pakistan Service From late-Sep 2023". AeroRoutes.
  32. "British Airways NW24 Intercontinental Network Changes".
  33. (13 June 2024). "China Southern Moves Guangzhou - Islamabad Service To Late-August 2024". AeroRoutes.
  34. "China Southern Expands Islamabad Service in 1Q24".
  35. "Mainland Chinese Carriers NS23 International / Regional Network – 23APR23".
  36. (20 October 2022). "Pakistan's low-cost airline Fly Jinnah set to commence operations after securing license".
  37. "Fly Jinnah".
  38. "Fly Jinnah to launch flights from Bahrain to Islamabad".
  39. "FlyJinnah NW25 Saudi Arabia Network Expansion".
  40. (10 February 2025). "FLYJINNAH NS25 MIDDLE EAST NETWORK ADDITIONS". Aeroroutes.
  41. (2024-02-02). "Fly Jinnah starting international flights". Pro-Pakistani.
  42. "flyadeal Expands Pakistan Network From late-August 2025".
  43. (25 June 2024). "FLYDUBAI EXPANDS PAKISTAN NETWORK FROM JULY 2024". AeroRoutes.
  44. (9 September 2025). "Direct flights between Tehran and Islamabad are officially launched".
  45. (27 July 2022). "Iraqi adds flights to Islamabad".
  46. "Jazeera Airways Plans Islamabad Addition in Dec 2022".
  47. "Mahan Air NW25 International Network Additions".
  48. "𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐧!".
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  50. (18 November 2020). "Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is introducing direct flights to a fifth destination, Burayda, located in northern Saudi Arabia.Route".
  51. (7 October 2022). "PIA to resume Turkiye flight operations from November 14".
  52. "PIA plans to 'resume' London flights from March 2026".
  53. (21 August 2025). "PIA Tentatively Moves Islamabad – Manchester Resumption to Late-Oct 2025". AeroRoutes.
  54. "Pakistan International Resumes Islamabad – Paris Service in 1Q25".
  55. "SALAMAIR JUNE 2024 SOUTH ASIA NETWORK EXPANSION".
  56. (4 November 2023). "Serene Air launches 2 weekly flights to Beijing this month". Pakistan Today.
  57. (2025-11-27). "CAA restores SereneAir air operator's certificate".
  58. (1 July 2024). "Somon Air Schedules Islamabad July 2024 Launch". AeroRoutes.
  59. (9 April 2019). "Istanbul's New Airport Is A Hot Beautiful Mess".
  60. (12 May 2025). "Uzbekistan Airways Resumes Islamabad Service From June 2025". AeroRoutes.
  61. (22 August 2025). "Air China Increases Pakistan Service in NW25". AeroRoutes.
  62. (2025-12-01). "Turkish Cargo Tariff - December 2025".
  63. (2025-03-22). "SF Cargo commences operations at Islamabad International Airport".
  64. "Qatar Airways Cargo - Station Capabilities".
  65. "Road network for new Islamabad Airport: Dar approves Rs 11 billion project".
  66. (2022-04-18). "PM urges China to include KCR in CPEC schemes".
  67. (2022-04-17). "PM Shehbaz Sharif to inaugurate Metro Bus Service to Islamabad airport today".
Info: Wikipedia Source

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