Jinnah International Airport, Karachi
The airport provides primary hub for the flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Shaheen Air International, and Airblue as well as many other private airlines. The airport is equipped with aircraft engineering and overhauling facilities including the Ispahani Hangar for wide-body aircr
History
 |
| Tata Airlines, an early pioneer in air travel in South Asia, started as a air mail service from Karachi to Mumbai |
 |
| Karachi Airport in 1943 during World War II |
 |
| PIA aircraft at Karachi airport in the 1980s |
During the 1940s there was a large black coloured hangar (also locally known as Kala Chapra) at the site of Karachi Airport, constructed for the British R101 Airship. Only three hangars were ever built in the world to dock and hangar the R101 airships. However, the R101 airship never arrived in Karachi (then part of the British Raj) as it crashed early in its journey in France. This hangar was so huge that aircraft often used it as a visual marker while attempting VFR landings at Karachi. Over the years, the hangar became known as the landmark of Karachi, until it was torn down by order of then-President Ayub Khan in the 1960s.
During World War II, Karachi Airport was a major transhipment base for United States Army Air Force units and equipment being used by Tenth Air Force in eastern India and Burma, as well as for Fourteenth Air Force in China. Several operational bomber and fighter units flew into Karachi for short organizational periods prior to their deployment. Air Technical Service Command had extensive facilities where aircraft were received, assembled and tested prior to being flown to their combat units at forward airfields. It also functioned as a major maintenance and supply depot for both air forces. In addition, Air Transport Command flew numerous cargo and passenger flights to the Middle East and to points within India and China.
Advertisement Valentine Day Shopping
, Jewellery and Clothes of First Ladies, Lifestyle of the First Ladies, Save 50.0% on select products from VANLAMS with promo code 50EAYVTV, through 1/31 while supplies last.
, Jewellery and Clothes of First Ladies, Lifestyle of the First Ladies, Save 50.0% on select products from VANLAMS with promo code 50EAYVTV, through 1/31 while supplies last.The airport facilities were further expanded in the 1980s to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 respectively. The present day infrastructure of Jinnah International Complex is a result of an expansion programme carried out in 1994. Today, the new Jinnah Terminal handles both domestic and international flights, whereas Terminal 2 is now dedicated to Hajj operations.
Karachi was once a much busier airport. Between the 1960s and 1980s it was an online station of several major airlines of the world including British Airways, Interflug, TAROM, Alitalia, JAT Yugoslavia Airlines, Aeroflot, Philippine Airlines, Nigeria Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, East African Airways, Kenya Airways, Air France, Qantas, Pan Am, Royal Jordanian, Libyan Arab Airlines, Japan Airlines, Syrian Arab Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Lufthansa, Swissair, and SAS. However, due to the emergence of Dubai's airport on the world map, increased usage of longer haul aircraft, and the poor political climate of Karachi during the 1990s, several airlines discontinued their service to the airport.
In the past couple of years Karachi has seen a reversal in fortunes. The dwindling numbers of international airlines have stabilised and whilst there hasn't been a marked increase in the number of airlines flying in to Karachi, some have either increased the number of flights or resumed their old operations, either online or via codeshare service.
Economic factors may be partly responsible for the upswing in activity at the airport. As industrial growth in Karachi and the rest of Pakistan expands, some European and Asian carriers are mooting resumption of services to Jinnah International.
Structure
 |
| Front view of Jinnah International |
JJinnah International Airport has a capacity of handling 12 million passengers annually. In fiscal year 2007-2008, over 6.6 million passengers used Jinnah International Airport. 249,283 aircraft movements were registered.
Jinnah International Airport in Karachi has always been the largest aviation facility in Pakistan. It is the primary hub of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). All other Pakistani airlines also use Jinnah International Airport as their main hub. These include Air Blue and Shaheen Air International, as well as several charter carriers.
The building is linked via connecting corridors to two satellites, each having a provision of eight passenger-loading bridges. The eastern satellite is devoted exclusively to handling international operations. The western satellite is used for domestic operations, as well as some international operations. This is achieved through a flexible arrangement of gates. The two satellites supplement the departure lounges of the terminal building and also provide shopping facilities and snack counters.
The Jinnah Terminal was completed in 1992 at a cost of US $100 million - at the time the most expensive civil construction project in Pakistan. NESPAK (National Engineering Services Pakistan) and Airconsult (Frankfurt, Germany) were responsible for the architecture and planning of the terminal. Sogea Construction, a French company, was the contractor. Mukhtar Husain (NESPAK) was the Chief Architect for the new terminal.
In Karachi, the CIP Lounge can be used by all first and business class passengers on all outbound flights. Private banking clients of MCB Bank Ltd and United Bank Ltd can also use the lounge on complimentary basis under contract to CAA as part of their benefits package. Only passengers who have been pre-issued an airline card from the check-in desk can enter the lounge. Other passengers who wish to use the lounge may do so upon payment of charges of USD 6.00 (international) or PKR 100/- (domestic). The lounge features light savoury snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, satellite TV, audio entertainment, newspapers, magazines, telephones, fax facilities, wireless Internet, and mobile charging points. There are also two McDonald's kiosks located on-site at the airport. airblue has also introduced their own lounge in the international terminal of the airport.
There are a number of banks that passengers can use at the airport including Askari Bank, Barclays, Citibank, Habib Bank, National Bank of Pakistan, MCB Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, Standard Chartered Bank, and United Bank; which offer ATMs, foreign exchange facilities, traveler's cheque encashment, and personal banking. Private banking clients of Barclays worldwide (high net-worth individuals) now have their dedicated lounge as well. It features a hot buffet with fusion chef-inspired cuisine, speciality coffees and mocktails, afternoon high tea, multimedia entertainment, global newspapers/magazines, shower and spa facility, both wifi and PC kiosk Internet, and round-the-clock dedicated concierge services.
The airport is also where the majority of PIA's maintenance network is located, although some of its maintenance work also takes place at Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Rawalpindi. There are several hangars at the airport; the largest being the Ispahani Hangar (named after Mirza Ahmad Ispahani, the first chairman of PIA) that can accommodate two Boeing 747s and one narrow body airliner (e.g. Boeing 737) at one time. On 15 February 2006, the first major overhaul of a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft (known as "C" check) was done at Ispahani Hangar. Most of the PIA aircraft are checked and regulated at the aircraft hangars in Karachi. The PIA maintenance also check other airline aircraft in Karachi such as Philippine Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Air Universal.
The head office of the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan is located in Terminal 1.Pakistan International Airlines has its head office on the grounds of the airport (PIA Building), as well as its central mainframe (CRC Building) which also houses its frequent flyer programme, Awards +, as well as hosting SITA Bagtrak, the shared International Air Transport Association global lost luggage tracking computer network. PIA Engineering HQ, Cargo Village, and Flight Kitchen are also located here. Terminals 1 and Jinnah West also boast round-the-clock PIA booking offices and ticketing auto-kiosks. PIA Building also has a ticketing facility, but only for PIA staff, their dependents, and authorised third-party contractors. Shaheen Air also has its head office on the airport property.
Advertisement Valentine Day Shopping, Jewellery and Clothes of First Ladies, Lifestyle of the First Ladies, Save 50.0% on select products from VANLAMS with promo code 50EAYVTV, through 1/31 while supplies last.
, Jewellery and Clothes of First Ladies, Lifestyle of the First Ladies, Save 50.0% on select products from VANLAMS with promo code 50EAYVTV, through 1/31 while supplies last.The airport has two runways measuring 3,200m and 3,400m in length respectively. Runways, 25R/07L and 25L/07R each have a width of 46 m (250 ft). The runways have capacity to handle 15 flights per hour. Runway 07L/25R is equipped with ILS to guide landing aircraft safely under very poor weather conditions and also allowing planes to land in low visibility conditions, such as fog. The taxiway is able to handle 12 aircraft at any one moment while the parking area measures 266,000 sq meters and is able to accommodate 42 aircraft, 12 of which through air bridges linking them directly with the terminal building. In addition to this, there are remote parking bays for 30 aircraft.
Ispahani hangar
The Ispahani Hangar is PIA's wide-body aircraft maintenance hangar at Jinnah International Airport. It has been named in honor of Mr. Mirza Ahmad Ispahani. Mirza Ahmad Ispahani was the first and longest serving chairman of Pakistan International Airlines from its inception until 1962. The new jet hangar for wide body and narrow body aircraft with a supporting airframe overhaul shop was completed and commissioned in 1968.
Most of the PIA aircraft are checked and regulated at the aircraft hangars in Karachi. The PIA maintenance also check other airline aircraft in Karachi such as Philippine Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
Terminals, airlines and destinations
Jinnah Airport has one main terminal, divided into two concourses:
The Jinnah East Satellite Concourse, used for international flights
The Jinnah West Satellite Concourse, used for domestic flights
Airlines Destinations Concourse
Air Arabia Sharjah East
Air China Beijing-Capital, Chengdu East
Airblue Dubai East
Airblue Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar West
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Dhaka East
Cathay Pacific Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Hong Kong East
Emirates Dubai East
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi East
Flydubai Dubai East
GMG Airlines Abu Dhabi, Dhaka East
Gulf Air Bahrain East
Iran Air Tehran-Imam Khomeini East
Iraqi Airways Charter: Najaf 1 East
Malaysia Airlines Dubai, Kuala Lumpur East
Oman Air Muscat East
Pakistan International Airlines Bahawalpur, Dalbandin, Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Ismail Khan, Faisalabad, Gwadar, Islamabad, Lahore, Moenjodaro, Multan, Panjgur, Peshawar, Quetta, Rahim Yar Khan, Sialkot, Sukkur, Turbat, Zhob West
Pakistan International Airlines Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Barcelona, Beijing-Capital, Chicago-O'Hare, Colombo [resumes 19 February], Dammam, Delhi, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Istanbul-Atatürk, Jeddah, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, London-Heathrow, Manchester, Mumbai, Muscat, New York-JFK [ends 11 March], Riyadh, Tokyo-Narita, Toronto-Pearson, Zahedan [resumes 15 January] East
Qatar Airways Doha East
Saudi Arabian Airlines Dammam, Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh East
Shaheen Air International Dammam, Dubai East
Shaheen Air International Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar West
SriLankan Airlines Colombo East
Thai Airways International Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Muscat East
Turkish Airlines Istanbul-Atatürk 2 East
^1 : Iraqi Airways service to Karachi is non-continuous and operates off and on, as scheduled charter.
^2 : Turkish Airlines service from Istanbul to Karachi will continue onto Dhaka beginning 26 December. However, they do not have rights to transport passengers on the KHi-DAC-KHI sector.
Cargo terminal
Cargo terminal
Airlines Destinations
Askari Aviation Islamabad, Lahore
Cargolux Luxembourg
DHL International Aviation ME Bahrain
Eurex Cargo Istanbul
Falcon Express Cargo Airlines Dubai
Midex Airlines Al Ain
Phoenix Aviation Bishkek, Sharjah
Qatar Airways Cargo Doha
Royal Airlines Cargo Lahore, Islamabad
Shaheen Air International Dubai
Sri Lankan Airlines operated by Expo Aviation Seasonal: Colombo
TCS Courier Dubai, Islamabad, Lahore, London
ULS Airlines Cargo Istanbul
Ground transportation
Taxi service is available to the airport from all points of Karachi, while bus routes are also available to the airport.
Accidents and incidents
5 August 1956 - Hermes IV G-ALDK operated by Britavia suffered the collapse of the nose undercarriage at Drigh Road Airport. The aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair.
On 14 August 1959, Vickers Viscount AP-AJE of Pakistan International Airlines crashed at Karachi International Airport while attempting an overshoot with two engines inoperative on a training flight. Two of the three people on board were killed.
On 19 August 1980, Saudia Flight 163 a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar flew from Karachi to Riyadh for its first leg. When the aircraft started its second leg to Jeddah, a fire developed. The plane landed, and all 287 Passengers & 14 Crew on board died from the fire.
On 5 September 1986 a Pan American World Airways Boeing 747-121 named Clipper Empress of the Seas, operating as Pan Am Flight 73, was hijacked by Palestinian gunmen posing as airport officials upon arrival from Bombay, India. 20 people were killed when the gunmen opened fire on the passengers as commandos prepared to storm the airplane whilst still on the ground.
On 5 July 2010, a Malaysia Airlines cargo plane bound for Afghanistan made an emergency landing at the airport after developing a technical fault.
On 28 July 2010, Airblue Flight 202, a domestic flight from Karachi to Islamabad operated by Airbus A321 AP-BJB, crashed into wooded and mountainous terrain near Islamabad. All 152 passengers on board were killed.
On 5 November 2010, A JS Air Beechcraft 1900, chartered by an ENI crashed a minute after takeoff. All 21 passengers & crew on board - 17 ENI employees , 2 pilots, a security guard, and a technician - were killed. Among the deads were 20 Pakistani nationals & 1 Italian national.
On 28 November 2010 Sun Way Flight 4412, operated by Ilyushin Il-76 4L-GNI crashed in a populated area of Karachi shortly after taking off from Jinnah International Airport. All eight people on board were killed, as were a further two people on the ground. The aircraft was reported to have been trying to return to Jinnah after suffering an engine fire.
Advertisement Valentine Day Shopping, Jewellery and Clothes of First Ladies, Lifestyle of the First Ladies, Save 50.0% on select products from VANLAMS with promo code 50EAYVTV, through 1/31 while supplies last.
, Jewellery and Clothes of First Ladies, Lifestyle of the First Ladies, Save 50.0% on select products from VANLAMS with promo code 50EAYVTV, through 1/31 while supplies last.(source:wikipedia)
Nice post, very useful blogs with very useful information, thank you for sharing this post,
ReplyDeleteRent A Car Islamabad without Driver