Hamid Karzai International Airport

Hamid Karzai International Airport
میدان هوائی بین المللی حامدکرزی
د حامدکرزی نړيوال هوائي ډګر

A Kam Air passenger jet parked next to the older domestic terminal
IATA: KBLICAO: OAKB
Summary
Airport type Public / Military
Owner Afghanistan
Operator
Serves Kabul, Kabul Province, Afghanistan
Hub for
Elevation AMSL 5,877 ft / 1,789 m
Coordinates 34°33′57″N 069°12′44″E / 34.56583°N 69.21222°E / 34.56583; 69.21222Coordinates: 34°33′57″N 069°12′44″E / 34.56583°N 69.21222°E / 34.56583; 69.21222
Map
KBL

Location of airport in Afghanistan

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
11/29 11,520 3,511 Paved
Source: Landings.com[1]

Hamid Karzai International Airport[2] (Persian: میدان هوائی بین المللی حامدکرزی, Pashto: د حامدکرزی نړيوال هوائي ډګر, IATA: KBL, ICAO: OAKB), is located 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) from the city center of Kabul in Afghanistan. It serves as one of the nation's main international airports and as one of the largest military bases, capable of housing over one hundred aircraft. The airport was given the new name in 2014 in honor of former President Hamid Karzai. The decision was made by the National Assembly of Afghanistan and the Cabinet of President Ashraf Ghani.[3] It was previously named Kabul International Airport.

The airport has been expanded and modernized in the last decade. A new international terminal was added and the older terminal is now used for domestic flights. A number of military bases were also built around the airport, which are used by the United States Armed Forces and NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The military of Afghanistan also has a base there, while the Afghan National Police provide security inside the passenger terminals.

As of March 2015 the most frequently serviced destination from the airport was Dubai-International with no less than five passenger airlines flying the route, some with multiple daily flights. In terms of passenger numbers, Istanbul-Atatürk was the largest, followed closely by Dubai, given the high volume of travel with Turkish Airlines, and Ariana Afghan Airlines, which flies to both Istanbul and Ankara in Turkey.

History and construction

Kabul Airport was originally built in the early 1960s by Soviet engineers. Around this time in history, Afghanistan was becoming a modernized nation and catching up with the rest of the nations in the world. Many tourists from places such as North America, Europe, India and the Soviet Union started flocking to the country via Kabul International Airport. This era ended after the 1978 Saur Revolution, especially after the 1979 Soviet invasion.

The airport was used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet War in Afghanistan, from 1979 to 1989. It was also used by the military forces of the former President of Afghanistan, Mohammad Najibullah, until 1992. It fell in the hands of local mujahideen forces for several years and then was taken over by the Taliban until late 2001 when they fled the city after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Due to international sanctions during the Taliban government, the airport was closed in the late 1990s, with very limited international flights.

An American Atlas Air plane flying off from Kabul Airport in 2010.

The Kabul International Airport was built in the early 1960s. During the Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979 to 1989), it was maintained and heavily used by the Soviet Army. Following their withdrawal the airport remained in control of Najibullah's government until in 1992 when rebel forces took over Kabul. By November 1996, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan governed by Mullah Muhammad Omar was in possession of the airport. They were driven out of the country during NATO "Operation Enduring Freedom" invasion, in late 2001.

Following NATO's invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Kabul International Airport was bombed by United States and coalition forces. After the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) took over control, the airport began to be developed slowly over the years. A new radar system was installed in 2005, which was upgraded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in 2010.[4] A new $35 million terminal for international flights was added in 2009. Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other high profile figures attended the inauguration ceremony.[5] The new terminal was officially opened to international flights in June 2009. The existing terminal has been refurbished and is currently being used for domestic flights.

Passenger movements reached 100,000 per year by 2010 or 300 per day. In early 2012, the radar system was strengthened to cover Afghanistan's entire air space.[6][7] The construction work for a new second runway began on 23 May 2012 at Kabul International Airport. The project will cost $26M and will be funded by the Japanese government, the runway will be 44 meters wide and 5.4 kilometers long with international standards.

In October 2014, the National Assembly of Afghanistan proposed naming the airport after former Afghan President Hamid Karzai in recognition of his services and contributions to the country's rebuilding. A day later the Cabinet of President Ashraf Ghani approved the name change.[3]

Military use

The North Side Cantonment - Kabul International Airport facility was completed and turned over to the United States Armed Forces in October 2008. It houses the command facilities for the Afghan Air Force (AAF), and includes housing, administrative, operations, maintenance and recreation facilities. The project included two new hangar complexes, a new taxiway and ramps. It is the headquarters and main base of the Afghan Air Force. The first hangar facility was turned over to the AAF in January 2008. The second hangar was completed later that year.

Facilities

The Soviet-built domestic terminal.

The airport has two terminal buildings, the modern for international flights and the Soviet built one for domestic flights. Several hangars along the runway are for military aircraft. There are no hangars for civilian (or transient) aircraft.

The airport has 7 helicopter pads which are used mostly for military traffic.

Fire fighting equipment is present. "The firefighting equipment has a capacity of up to 12,000 liters of water and has the ability and reach of 90 meters to control fire disasters, first of such modern equipment provided for the airport."[8]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

The following airlines offer scheduled passenger service:

AirlinesDestinations
Afghan Jet International Bost/Lashkar Gah, Chaghcharan, Herat, Kandahar, Tarin Kowt/Uruzgan[9]
Air India Delhi
Ariana Afghan AirlinesAnkara, Baku, Delhi, Dubai-International, Herat, Istanbul-Atatürk, Jeddah, Kandahar, Kuwait, Mashhad, Moscow-Sheremetyevo[10]
East Horizon Airlines Bamyan, Chaghcharan, Faizabad, Herat, Khost, Kunduz, Sharana,[11] Zaranj[12]
Emirates Dubai-International
flydubai Dubai-International
Iran Aseman Airlines Charter: Mashhad, Tehran-Mehrabad [13]
Kam Air Bost/Lashkar Gah, Delhi, Dubai-International, Dushanbe, Herat, Kandahar, Kunduz, Mashhad, Mazar-i-Sharif, Tarin Kowt/Uruzgan,[14] Tehran-Imam Khomeini
Mahan Air Tehran-Imam Khomeini [15]
Pakistan International Airlines Islamabad, Peshawar[16]
Safi Airways Delhi, Dubai-International, Herat, Islamabad, Jeddah, Mashhad, Mazar-i-Sharif[17]
Somon Air Dushanbe[18]
SpiceJet Delhi
Turkish Airlines Istanbul-Atatürk

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Coyne Airways Dubai-International
MNG Airlines Karachi, Lahore, Abu Dhabi
FitsAir Dubai-International
Silk Way Airlines Baku

Transportation

Buses, taxi and private cars provide transportation to and from the airport. A 4 lane highway connects the airport to Kabul.

Accidents and incidents

Civilian

Military

Non-aircraft related

Gallery

See also

References

  1. Airport record for Kabul Khwaja Rawash International Airport at Landings.com. Retrieved 2013-08-01
  2. "Hamid Karzai International Airport (Kabul)". hamidkarzaiairport.com. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Cabinet names Kabul Airport after Karzai". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  4. "Press Releases 2010 - Embassy of the United States Kabul, Afghanistan". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  5. "Karzai opens Kabul air terminal". BBC News. 6 November 2008.
  6. http://www.sada-e-azadi.net/Joomla/index.php/en/capital/5352-radar-system-installed-to-ensure-air-traffic-safely
  7. http://www.outlookafghanistan.net/news?post_id=3263
  8. "Kabul International Airport to be provided with modern equipments". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  9. http://www.flyaji.com/route-map
  10. Winter 2015 Ariana Timetable, http://www.flyariana.com/sched/view.asp
  11. 2014 Timetable, http://flyeasthorizon.com/flight-schedule/
  12. East Horizon Airlines is proud to announce direct flight between Kabul / Zaranj / Kabul every Monday with new aircraft MA-60 (manufactured 2011) commencing from June 23, 2014., http://flyeasthorizon.com/latest-news/
  13. Iran aseman schedule (Persian)
  14. "Flight Schedules". Kam Air. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  15. Mahan air timetable 2014, one flight a week, http://reservations.mahan.aero/ibe/public/showFlightSchedule.action?startDate=06%2F2014&fromDst=KBL&toDst=IKA&lang=en
  16. PIA schedule, search Kabul
  17. March 2015 Timetable, http://www.safiairways.com/schedule
  18. L, J (15 April 2016). "Somon Air Adds New Routes in April/May 2016". Airline Route. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  19. Harro Ranter (2 January 1962). "ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-47-DL (DC-3) EP-ABB Kabul-Khwaja Rawash Airport (KBL)". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  20. "YA-AAB Accident Description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  21. Harro Ranter (21 September 1984). "ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 YA-LAS Kabul". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  22. Harro Ranter (12 June 1990). "ASN Aircraft accident Ilyushin 76MD CCCP-86905 Kabul". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  23. Harro Ranter (29 May 1992). "ASN Aircraft accident Tupolev 154M YA-TAP Kabul". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  24. Harro Ranter (19 March 1998). "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 727-228 YA-FAZ Kabul Airport (KBL)". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  25. Crash of Antonov AN-24 at Kabul Airport (Afghanistan). Air-valid.
  26. Harro Ranter (3 February 2005). "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-242 EX-037 Kabul". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  27. Harro Ranter (17 May 2010). "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov 24B YA-PIS Salang Pass". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  28. Harro Ranter (8 May 2014). "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-4Y0 YA-PIB Kabul Airport (KBL)". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  29. Harro Ranter (11 March 1985). "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov 30 05 red Kabul Airport (KBL)". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  30. Harro Ranter (29 November 1986). "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov 12 registration unknown Kabul Airport (KBL)". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  31. Harro Ranter (21 October 1987). "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov 12BK registration unknown Kabul Airport (KBL)". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  32. Harro Ranter (21 December 1987). "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov 26 registration unknown Kabul Airport (KBL)". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  33. Harro Ranter (24 June 1988). "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov 26 29 Kabul Airport (KBL)". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  34. Harro Ranter (28 August 1992). "ASN Aircraft accident Ilyushin 76MD CCCP-78780 Kabul Airport (KBL)". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  35. Harro Ranter (5 August 2008). "ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed C-130H Hercules 1212 Kabul Airport (KBL)". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  36. "Explosion shakes Afghan capital". AFP. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
  37. "Car bomb explodes near military airport in Kabul". Chron. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
  38. Sneha Shankar (4 July 2014). "Taliban Fires Rockets At Kabul Airport Burning Down Afghan President Hamid Karzai's Chopper". International Business Times. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  39. "Gunman kills 3 American Contractors". http://www.foxnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 29 January 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  40. "Suicide bomber kills three and injures eighteen". http://www.bbc.co.uk/news. BBC. Retrieved 17 May 2015. External link in |website= (help)

External links

Wikinews has related news: Afghan president Hamid Karzai opens new terminal at Kabul International Airport
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kabul International Airport.
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