Multan International Airport

Multan International Airport
مُلتان بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈہ

IATA: MUX – ICAO: OPMT

MUX
Location of airport in Pakistan

Summary
Airport type Public/Military
Owner Government of Pakistan
Operator Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
Serves Multan
Location Punjab, Pakistan
Elevation AMSL 400 ft / 122 m
Coordinates 30°12′12″N 071°25′09″E / 30.20333°N 71.41917°E / 30.20333; 71.41917Coordinates: 30°12′12″N 071°25′09″E / 30.20333°N 71.41917°E / 30.20333; 71.41917
Website Multan International Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18/36 10,516 3,205 Concrete

Multan International Airport (Urdu: مُلتان بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈہ‎) (IATA: MUX, ICAO: OPMT) is situated 4 km west of the city Multan in Punjab, Pakistan.[1] It was originally built to cater mainly to the population of Multan, however as the airport gained much popularity traffic from surrounding areas which included Shujabad, Vehari, Lodhran, Khanewal, Mian Channu, Shorkot, Muzaffargarh, Kot Adu, Layyah, Rajanpur, Burewala, Chichawatni and Sahiwal.

History

Early beginning

Multan International Airport traces its origins to the British Empire, when the Royal Air Force used the open space to fly in and out of the region during 1919.[2] The area was used for aircraft that were able to land on gravel and grass surfaces. In 1934, Imperial Airways started to use the airfield for civil aircraft flights since Multan was considered a strategic position in the Punjab province of India. It was not until 1938 that Imperial Airways started to operate regular flights out of Multan. The flight would originate in Lahore, then fly into Multan, where it would continue its journey to Jacobabad and then Karachi.

Following the independence of Pakistan from the British, Pak Air, a new airline to the dominion, started operations from Multan Airport. Multan Flying Club was also set up at the Airport within the same year. It was not until the birth of the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines in 1957, that PIA started operations from Airport using Douglas DC-3 aircraft. In 1963, due to growth of the number of flights and larger aircraft requirements, the runway, taxi-ways and aprons where carpeted using bitumen. A new control tower was constructed to meet the technological changes at that time. In 1971, as PIA had acquired Boeing aircraft, the runway was extended to 9000' by 100' to handle heavier aircraft and more passengers. The Airport terminal building was extended in 1977 which also saw the airport handle Boeing 720 aircraft. In 1980–88, the airport runway was strengthened and re-carpeted for the arrival of the Airbus A300. It was not until 1999, that PIA and private airline Aero Asia that gave airport an international status. Flights began to the Middle East such as Dubai and Kuwait.

Recent development

Under construction Multan Airport new terminal (landside), photographed in 2013

As the demand for air travel began to surge, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority decided to upgrade the facilities for the airport in 2005.[3] Initially the runway was upgraded to handle Boeing 747 operations at a cost of Rs 720m and was completed within the same year. On 15 December 2006, Shaheen Air started four weekly flights from Karachi to Multan.[4] The airport also reported an operating profit of Rs 1bn within that year.[5]

It was in December 2007, that Director General CAA, Farooq Rehmatullah held a press conference that the terminal building would be expanded as well as airside facilities at a cost of Rs4.5bn.[6] It was in April 2009 that the work started with the runway, taxi ways and apron so the airport could handle large aircraft.[7] The ground breaking ceremony was held by the then PM Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani. Pakistan-based Engineering Consultants International Limited (ECIL) was awarded the contract to extend the runway and terminal building.[8]

In January 2010, the Pakistan CAA decided that a brand new terminal with four jet bridges would be constructed instead of expanding the current terminal.[9] In June 2010, PM Yousuf Raza Gilani carried out the ground breaking ceremony for the terminal building and inaugurated the first PIA Being 747 Hajj flight on the 28th October 2010.

During 2011, PIA introduced weekly flights for Jeddah and Medina. Flydubai announced thrice a week flights between Multan and Dubai with Boeing 737-800 from 14 March 2013 and became first foreign airline to operate from the airport post independence. Shaheen Air International restarted its daily operation from Karachi with Boeing 737 in February 2012 and Bhoja Air launched two weekly flights from Karachi with Boeing 737-200 in March 2012. Air Indus announced daily service for Multan – Karachi from 20 August 2013. Shaheen Air International started twice-a-week flight service for Multan – Dubai sector from 31 March 2013. Shaheen Air International announced two weekly flights between Multan and Medina from 1 June 2013. Pakistan International Airlines started two weekly direct flights for Jeddah & Medina from January 2014. Pakistan International Airlines announced weekly service for Multan – Sharjah sector from 30 March 2014. Shaheen Air International announced twice a week service for Jeddah - Multan sector from December-2014.

In March 2015, new terminal of Multan International Airport was formally inaugurated by PM Nawaz Sharif with former PM Yousuf Raza Gilani as well as several high-ranking officials.[10] All operations have now shifted from the old terminal to the new one with flights increasing with more destinations and routes being opened up for the city of Multan. Keeping the international standards in view, a new air traffic control tower is constructed as well which is equipped with modern gadgets and navigation systems. A cargo complex of international standard has also been established with a capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes per year to host international cargo flights from Multan which will boost exports of fruits particularly mangoes and vegetables. There are plans that this would further increase to 30,000 metric tonnes every year.

After the transfer of all operations to new terminal, Airblue announced to start twice a week flight service for Islamabad from 3 April-2015. Airblue also announced to start twice a week service for Jeddah from 4 April-2015 & twice a week service for Sharjah from 10 April-2015. Qatar Airways announced to start 3 times a week service by A320 with 2 class seating for Doha - Multan sector from 1 August-2015 to get the facility for connections to USA & Europe. Air Arabia announced 4 weekly flights for Sharjah - Multan sector from 1 May-2015. Flydubai announced to increase its 3 times weekly service to daily flights for Multan from 26 May-2015 as they got a good load for the sector. Air Arabia also got a successful response so they announced to increase its service to daily flights for Multan from 31 May-2015. Emirates announced to start 4 times a week flight operation by Boeing 777-300 with 2 class seating to provide service for Dubai - Multan sector from 1 August-2015 which will facilitate the travelers to get connections for MENA Region, Far East, USA & Europe, this service will also provide the international cargo facility as every flight can carry up to 23 tonnes of cargo.[11] Flydubai announced to increase its frequency to 9 flights a week from 10 July-2015, 2 additional flights will provide the service on Wednesdays & Fridays to facilitate the travelers to/from Multan.[12] After getting a successful business on Jeddah & Sharjah routes Airblue announced to start twice a week flight service for Medina as well from 18 August-2015. Pakistan International Airlines opening more new routes from Multan so they announced to start 1 weekly flight for Abu Dhabi by A320 from 26 October-2015 & 1 weekly flight for Muscat from 14 November-2015 by using A320. Gulf Air expanding their operation in Pakistan and opening more routes so they announced 4 weekly flight by A320 for Bahrain - Multan sector from 14 December-2015 which will also provide connections for USA.[13] Shaheen Air International added Riyadh in its schedule as a new destination from Multan with twice a week service by using A320 from 6 April-2016. Airblue is increasing its operation for Multan and they announced to start 4 weekly flights in between Karachi & Multan from 19 April-2016 by using A320. Pakistan International Airlines also started a new route in between Multan & Riyadh by providing 1 weekly flight from 21 April-2016.

Structure

Multan International Airport is fitted with all the essentials for domestic and international flights with the inauguration of the new terminal. The information below is correct as of April 2016.[14]

Lounges
Apron
Runway
Airport Services
Airbus A320-214, Airblue AN2243785
Ground Handling Agents
Cargo Complex
Flying Schools/ Institutions
Additional

Airlines and destinations

PIA Boeing 747-300 taking off from the newly renovated runway.
PIA ATR42 taxing to the active.
AirlinesDestinations
Air Arabia Sharjah [19]
Airblue Islamabad, Jeddah, Karachi, Medina, Sharjah
Air Indus Karachi
Emirates Dubai-International [20]
Flydubai Dubai-International
Gulf AirBahrain [21]
Pakistan International Airlines Abu Dhabi,[22] Islamabad, Jeddah, Karachi, Lahore, Medina,[23] Riyadh
Qatar Airways Doha [24]
Shaheen Air Dubai-International, Jeddah, Karachi, Medina, Riyadh

Access

Car

Multan International Airport is situated in the well populated area of cantonment and it is easily accessible through Airport Road by using Jamil Abad Road from any part of the city. There is a drop off lane at the front of the terminal as well as a wide car parking area which can accommodate more than 400 vehicles.

Taxi

Metro Radio Cab Services provides service directly from the airport and their counter is situated at the landside of the terminal to book the cab.

Private Rent A Car facility is also available at the airport.

Rickshaw

There are also a number of traditional rickshaws available at the airport parking area & entrance which are quite popular to travel short distance within the city.

Train

Multan Cantonment railway station is the nearest railway station only less than 3 km away from the airport to get the railway connections for the other parts of country.

Statistics

The following table provides details of the major traffic flows out of Multan in terms of passenger numbers, aircraft movements, cargo as well as mail. The results were collected by the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan:[25]

Year Aircraft movements (Commercial) Passengers (Intl. & Domestic) Cargo handled (M. Tons) Mail handled (M. Tons)
2005-06[26] 4,902 262,582 1,623 N/A
2006-07 3,901 240,573 1,273 49.52
2007-08 3,943 250,661 932 31.966
2008-09 2,474 237,358 1,006 27.59
2009-10 3,390 151,135 86 5.02
2010-11 3,789 218,830 553 7.34
2011-12 4,089 228,312 489 9.87
2012-13 2,732 211,165 352 11.83
2013-14 3,950 359,342 415 3.26
2014-15 3,512 384,571 414 0.97

Incidents and accidents

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.multaninternationalairport.com.pk Multan International Airport
  2. ↑ http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/86230/g-aiwc-air-contractors-douglas-dc-3/ Air Contractors DC-3, Parked at Multan, Pakistan
  3. ↑ http://www.historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10401 Multan International Airport Runway Repair To Cost Rs 720m
  4. ↑ Shaheen Air International News Releases
  5. ↑ http://dailytimes.com.pk/Multan-Earns-One-Billion-Profit/ PIA Multan Earns Over Rs 1bn In 2007
  6. ↑ http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/ CAA to spend Rs 4.5bn for Multan Airport upgradation
  7. ↑ http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=721519&currPageNo=2&query=&search=&term=&supDate= Work On Multan International Airport Upgradation To Start In June
  8. ↑ http://www.ecil.com/ Press Release: Multan Upgrade Project
  9. ↑ http://www.caapakistan.com.pk/ CAA Tender Notices: Upgradation of Multan Airport
  10. ↑ http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/03/10/business/multan-airport-opens-to-the-world/ airport opens to the world
  11. ↑ http://www.pakcargoservice.co.uk/blog/emirates-airline-fortifies-pakistan-service/
  12. ↑ http://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/flydubai-announce-flights-to-faisalabad-1.1535392 Flydubai announced to increase its frequency for Multan
  13. ↑ http://www.gulfair.com/English/aboutgulfair/Pages/News.aspx?newsno=849 Gulf Air Adds Faisalabad and Multan to Pakistan Network
  14. ↑ http://www.multaninternationalairport.com.pk Multan International Airport
  15. ↑ http://www.multaninternationalairport.com.pk Multan International Airport
  16. ↑ http://www.multaninternationalairport.com.pk Multan International Airport
  17. ↑ http://www.multaninternationalairport.com.pk Multan International Airport
  18. ↑ http://www.dnata.com/english/news-and-features/press-releases/pressreleasedetail.aspx?article=2578331&al=8&offset=0&fd=20120101000000&td=20150818235950 Gerry’s dnata expands its footprint with three new airport locations in Pakistan
  19. ↑ http://www.airarabia.com
  20. ↑ "Emirates Expands Pakistan Operation from July 2015". Airlineroute.net. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  21. ↑ "Gulf Air Adds New Routes to Pakistan from mid-Dec 2015". Airlineroute.net. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  22. ↑ http://www.piac.com.pk/schedule/display_abc.asp?date=9:47:25%20AM
  23. ↑ http://www.piac.com.pk/WeeklyFlightSchedule.aspx
  24. ↑ http://www.eturbonews.com/56139/qatar-airways-unveils-three-new-destinations-pakistan Qatar Airways announces three more destinations in Pakistan
  25. ↑ Statistical Information of CAA Pakistan CAA Pakistan, updated on 14 March 2016
  26. ↑ http://www.azworldairports.com/airports/a2265mux.cfm

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