Bacha Khan International Airport

Peshawar International Airport
File:Peshawar Airport Logo.jpg
IATA: PEW ICAO: OPPS
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
Serves	Peshawar
Location	North West Frontier Province, Pakistan
Elevation AMSL	1,158 ft / 353 m
Coordinates	33°59′38″N 71°30′53″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 17/35 9,000 2,743 Asphalt

Peshawar International Airport (IATA: PEW, ICAO: OPPS) is an airport located in the city of Peshawar in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Located about a 10-minute drive from the center of Peshawar, it is the 4th busiest airport in Pakistan. One unusual feature is that one end of the main runway is crossed by a rail line -- the seldom-used Khyber train safari to Landi Kotal in the Khyber Pass.

History

Strategically situated in the heart of Peshawar. Peshawar International Airport is located approximately 180 km from Islamabad (Capital of Pakistan) which makes it about two hours drive from the capital. The airport also has quite a rich history compared to other airports within Pakistan. Since Peshawar is the capital of the North West Frontier Province, it provides world connections for the majority of the North West region of the country. Since the province has a large Afgani/Pathan community residencing within the NWFP, Afganistan flights have always been on the rise with family either visiting relatives across the border or wanting to seek a better quality of life within Pakistan.

The airport traces its origins to the year 1927, when there was a small airfield that catered to much of the British Empire and aircraft that were either travelling onwards to the east (e.g. to China or Singapore) or west (e.g. Europe and America). For this very reason the city was given the name, "Gatway to the East", where it linked the traditional oriental culture to the modern western traditions. The airport only gained much importance after the independance of Pakistan from the British Empire. The Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan and the Pakistan Air Force started to jointly use the airfield for both military and civil operations. There were countless flights operated to and from Pakistan's largest city, Karachi as well as other cities within the newly formed state.

The airport achieved internaitonal status in 1965, when the first flight was operated from Kabul, Afganistan to Peshawar. The flight was operated by the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines. As years when on, the airport grew with more flights and aircraft growth and relative upgrade was carried out throughout the years. It was not until 1981 the CAA extended the terminal to meet future needs for the next decade and to meet the estimated growth of passengers. The apron was developed fully by 1986, where the airport was able to handle four wide body aircraft and two small narrow body aircraft at one time.

In January 2008, the provincial government meet to discuss the expansion work needed to upgrade the quality of the aircraft interms of facilities, terminal modernisation and cargo growth.

Structure

Peshawar is a major passenger hub with 75% flights internationally bound. The airport is currently under evaluation to being upgraded to make it compatible with future needs of the geographical location. The CAA is currently working with provincial government to develop the airport to meet international standards. At present the following facilities are available at the airport.

• Runway;
  • 9,000 foot long, 150 foot wide with 10 foot wide shoulders on either side corresponding to International Civil Aviation Organization Category 4E.

• Aprons;
  • For passenger and cargo. Combination of flexible and rigid pavements.
  • Nose-in parking for 4 wide-bodied aircraft at a time or 3 Airbus plus 2 narrow body aircraft at a time.

• Lounges;
  • Two Domestic Departure and Arrivals with a restaurant/Wireless internet facility in each.
  • Two International Departure and Arrival Halls
  • Two Executive Lounges for Premium and CIP passengers.
  • Several FIDS/Plasma TV screens located at various points within the halls showing television programs and flight schedule timings.

There are also a number of other features at the airport, such as telephone calling (domestic/international) facilities, money exchange facilities, ATM machines, Internet booths (powered by Wateen), information counters, gifts and souvernior shops, snack shops, rent a car services, as well as a post office.

Airlines and destinations

Domestic

• Airblue (Karachi)
• Pakistan International Airlines (Chitral, Dera Ismail Khan, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore)
• Shaheen Air (Karachi)

International

• Air Arabia (Sharjah)
• Airblue (Dubai)
• Emirates (Dubai)
• Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi)
• Gulf Air (Bahrain)
• Pakistan International Airlines (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kabul, Kuwait, Riyadh)
• Qatar Airways (Doha)
• Shaheen Air International (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat)
• Saudi Arabian Airlines (Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh)

Charter

• Askari Aviation
• Peshawar Flying Club

khanzada 0097336545992

Events

• Spyplane, piloted by Gary Powers, left Peshawar Airport intending to fly over the Soviet Union. His plane was shot down and he was captured and put on trial in the USSR. This triggered the U-2 Crisis of 1960.

See also

• List of airports in Pakistan
• Airlines of Pakistan
• Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
• Shaheen Airport Services
• Transport in Pakistan

External links

• Template:WAD
• Current weather for OPPS at NOAA/NWS
• Accident history for PEW at Aviation Safety Network