Jinnah International Airport

Jinnah International Airport
جناح بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا‬
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner/Operator Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
Manager: Afsar Malik[1]
Location Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Hub for
Elevation AMSL 100 ft / 30 m
Coordinates 24°54′24″N 67°09′39″E / 24.90667°N 67.16083°E / 24.90667; 67.16083Coordinates: 24°54′24″N 67°09′39″E / 24.90667°N 67.16083°E / 24.90667; 67.16083
Website karachiairport.com.pk
Map
KHI
KHI
KHI
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07R/25L 3,400 11,155 Concrete
07L/25R 3,200 10,500 Concrete
Statistics (2016-17[2])
Passengers 6,860,095
Passenger change Increase 3.9%
Aircraft movements 50,212 Increase 1.24%
Cargo handled 123,647 metric tons

Jinnah International Airport (Urdu: جناح بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا‎; Sindhi: جناح بين الاقوامي هوائي اڏي‎) (IATA: KHI, ICAO: OPKC) is Pakistan's busiest international and domestic airport, and handled 6,860,095 passengers in 2016-2017.[3] Located in Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan and capital of the province of Sindh, it is named after Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

The airport is managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and provides a hub for the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Air Indus, Shaheen Air, Airblue and many other private airlines. The airport is equipped with aircraft engineering and overhauling facilities including the Ispahani Hangar for wide-body aircraft.[4]

History

Tata Airlines, started as an air mail service from Karachi to Mumbai
Karachi Port Trust Airport in 1943 during World War II with two Liberators and four Dakotas

J. R. D. Tata, the father of civil aviation in British India made the maiden voyage from Juhu Aerodrome in Bombay to Drigh Road airstrip (now Jinnah International Airport), Karachi, via Ahmedabad, on 15 October 1932 carrying mail in a Puss Moth aircraft.[5]

During the late 1920's and early 1930's, there was a large black coloured airship hangar at the site of Karachi Airport, constructed for the British HMA R101, at the time, the largest aircraft ever built. Only three hangars were ever built in the world to dock and hangar Britain's fleet of passenger airships. However, the R101 never arrived in Karachi (then part of the British Raj) as it crashed and exploded just 8 hours into its maiden flight over Beauvais France, killing all but 6 of its 54 passengers and crew. 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 demolished 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 Forces units and equipment being used by Tenth Air Force in eastern India, Burma and the Fourteenth Air Force in China. Several operational bomber and fighter units flew into Karachi for short organisational 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 British India and China.

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. Terminal 1 (the original airport) is now the HQ of Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority and Terminal 3 is dedicated to commercial offices.[6]

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 Air India, British Airways (now operating via codeshare with Qatar Airways), Interflug, TAROM, Alitalia (now operating via codeshare with Etihad), JAT Yugoslavia Airlines, Aeroflot, Philippine Airlines, Nigeria Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, East African Airways, Kenya Airways (now operating via codeshare with Etihad), Air France, Qantas, Pan Am, Royal Jordanian, Libyan Arab Airlines, Japan Airlines, Syrian Arab Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Lufthansa, Swissair and SAS. Other former airlines were Azerbaijan Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Kazakhstan Airlines, KLM (now operating via codeshares with Etihad and Gulf Air), Kuwait Airways, Kyrgyzstan Airlines, Libyan Arab Airlines, Transportes Aéreos da Índia Portuguesa and Uzbekistan Airways. However, due to the emergence of Dubai's airport on the world map, increased usage of longer haul aircraft, expensive fuel prices in Pakistan 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 number of international airlines has stabilised and whilst there has not been a marked increase in the number of airlines flying into Karachi, some have either increased the number of flights or resumed their old operations, either online or via codeshare service.

As air traffic in Pakistan increased by staggering 40% in the last 5 years, five new airlines (Askari Air, Air Siyal, Go Green, Liberty Air and Afeef Zara Airways) are expected to venture into Pakistan’s aviation industry by 2019, in the latest sign of intensifying competition in the backdrop of an open skies policy. This will not only bring a positive competitive envirnoment and reduce passenger fares, but will also pose fresh challenge requiring a serious policy review to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) which is crippled by its own policital vested interests. [7]

On 8 June 2014, at least 10 militants armed with automatic weapons,[8][9][9] a rocket launcher, suicide vests and grenades attacked the airport; 36 people were killed, including all 10 attackers and at least 18 people were wounded.

Structure

Jinnah International-JIAP
Aerial view of Jinnah International Airport taken in 2010

Jinnah International Airport has a capacity of handling 12 million passengers annually. In fiscal year 2008–2009, over 5,725,052 passengers used Jinnah International Airport. 50,095 aircraft movements were registered.[10] 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 airblue, Shaheen Air, SereneAir 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, mobile recharging points, 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 and Abdul Malik (NESPAK) were the Chief Engineers for the new terminal. In Karachi, the CIP Lounge can be used by all first and business class passengers on all outbound flights. Barclays, UBL and airblue have also introduced their dedicated lounges in the international terminal of the airport.[11] There are a number of bank kiosks and ATMs that passengers can use at the airport. 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.[12] Pakistan International Airlines has its head office on the grounds of the airport (PIA Building),[13] 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 have round-the-clock PIA booking offices and ticketing auto-kiosks. Shaheen Air also has its head office on the airport property.[14]

Ispahani Hangar

PIA Maintenance facility, Ispahani Hangar

The Ispahani Hangar is PIA's wide-body aircraft maintenance hangar at Jinnah International Airport. It has been named in honour of Mr. Mirza Ahmad Ispahani. Mirza Ahmad Ispahani was the first and longest serving chairman of Pakistan International Airlines from its inception in 1954 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, Yemenia and Turkish Airlines.

Terminals

Jinnah Airport has one main terminal, divided into two concourses:[15]

  • The Jinnah East Satellite Concourse, used for international flights
  • The Jinnah West Satellite Concourse, used for domestic flights

Runways and aprons

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)and 45m respectively. Capable of handling up to Boeing 747, Boeing 787 Dreamliner & Antonov An-225 Mriya aircraft. The runways have capacity to handle 15 flights per hour and it accommodate simultaneous landing and take off. Runway 25R and 25L is equipped with ILS CAT-I to guide landing aircraft safely under very poor weather conditions and also allowing planes to land in low visibility conditions, such as fog.[16] The taxiway is able to handle 12 aircraft at any one moment while the parking area measures 266,000 sq metres 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.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Air Arabia Sharjah
Airblue Abu Dhabi, Islamabad, Jeddah, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar
Air China Beijing–Capitala
Emirates Dubai–International
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi
Flydubai Dubai–International
Gulf Air Bahrain
Iran Air Tehran-Imam Khomeini
Iraqi Airways Baghdad, Najaf[17]
Oman Air Muscat
Pakistan International Airlines Abu Dhabi, Bahawalpur, Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi,[18] Beijing–Capital, Dammam, Dera Ghazi Khan, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai–International, Faisalabad, Gwadar, Islamabad, Jeddah,[19] Kuala Lumpur–International, Lahore, London–Heathrow, Medina, Moenjodaro, Multan, Muscat, Najaf, Panjgur, Peshawar, Quetta, Rahim Yar Khan, Riyadh, Sialkot, Sukkur, Tokyo–Narita, Toronto–Pearson, Turbat, Zhob
Charter: Dadu, Kadanwari, Sawan, Zamzama
Qatar Airways Doha
SalamAir Muscat
Saudia Dammam, Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh
SaudiGulf Airlines Dammam (begins 15 October 2018)
Serene Air Faisalabad ,[20] Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta
Sky KG Airlines Bishkek, Doha, Kuwait (all begin 28 October 2018)
SriLankan Airlines Colombo
Thai Airways Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Muscat
Turkish Airlines Istanbul–Atatürk

Notes:

^a : Air China's flight from Beijing to Karachi make a stop in Islamabad International Airport but the flight from Karachi to Beijing is nonstop. Air China does not have eighth freedom rights on the Karachi-Islamabad sector

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
DHL Aviation
operated by DHL International Aviation ME		Abu Dhabi, Bagram, Bahrain[21]
Qatar Airways Cargo Doha
Royal Airlines Dubai, Lahore
Star Air Aviation Abu Dhabi, Dubai-International, Islamabad, Kuwait, Lahore, Peshawar[22]
TCS Courier Dubai, London, Islamabad, Lahore
Turkish Airlines Cargo Istanbul-Atatürk, Kuwait, Singapore, Tehran-Imam Khomeini[23]
Vision Air InternationalLahore, Other International Destinations

Ground transport

Jinnah International Airport is situated in the well populated area of Gulistan-e-Jauhar and it is easily accessible through Airport Road from any part of the city.

The Airport has a wide parking area which can accommodate more than 3000 vehicles.

Bus and mini bus and taxis are also available to the airport. 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.

Karachi Cantonment railway station is the nearest railway station from the airport to get the railway connections for the other parts of country. There is also a commuter rail station, Karachi Airport Station, which is located 2 km southwest of main Jinnah Terminal, just south of Star Gate.

Accidents and incidents

Date Aircraft Registration Flight no Airline Occupants Fatalities Details
27 December 1947 Douglas DC-3 VT-AUG Air-India 23 23 The DC-3 lost control after takeoff and struck the ground in a 30deg angle whilst in a violent sideslip to the right.[24]
3 March 1953 de Havilland DH-106 Comet 1A CF-CUN Canadian Pacific Air Lines (CP Air) 11 11 Failed to takeoff and crashed into a dry river bed. First fatal passenger jet airliner crash.[25]
5 August 1956 Hermes IV G-ALDK Britavia Suffered the collapse of the nose undercarriage at Drigh Road Airport. The aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair.[26]
14 August 1959 Vickers Viscount AP-AJE Pakistan International Airlines 3 2 Aircraft crashed at Karachi International Airport while attempting an overshoot with two engines inoperative on a training flight.[27]
5 September 1986 Boeing 747-121 Pan Am Flight 73 Pan American World Airways 381 20 Aircraft was hijacked by Palestinian gunmen posing as airport officials upon arrival from Bombay (now Mumbai), 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.
5 November 2010 Beechcraft 1900 JS Air 21 21 A plane chartered by the Italian oil company, 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 dead were 20 Pakistani nationals and 1 Italian national.[28]
28 November 2010 Ilyushin Il-76 4L-GNI Sun Way Flight 4412 Sun Way 8 10 Aircraft 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 International after suffering an engine fire.[29]

Terrorist attack

On 8 June 2014, 10 militants armed with automatic weapons, a rocket launcher, suicide vests, and grenades attacked Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan. 36 people were killed, including all 10 attackers, and 18 others were wounded.[30] Two aircraft of PIA (a Boeing 747 and an Airbus A310) and one Air Indus plane were reported to be damaged. The damage to the Air Indus aircraft was extensive, which rendered it non-operational, leading to the demise of the airline.[31] Both PIA aircraft were subsequently written off.[32]

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. ↑ "Key transfers in CAA; Afsar Malik appointed Karachi airport manager". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.caapakistan.com.pk/AT/AT-EO-Stats.aspx
  3. ↑ "Statistical Information of CAA Pakistan".
  4. ↑ "Welcome to Jinnah International Airport Karachi". Archived from the original on 24 November 2005.
  5. ↑ Pran Nath Seth; Pran Nath Seth, Sushma Seth Bhat (2003). An Introduction To Travel And Tourism. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 112. ISBN 978-81-207-2482-2.
  6. ↑ Paul Stephen Dempsey (1999), Airport Planning & Development Handbook: a global survey. McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 978-0-07-134316-9
  7. ↑ https://tribune.com.pk/story/1620663/2-open-skies-policy-five-new-airlines-plan-enter-pakistan-pia-stands-lose/
  8. ↑ "Karachi Airport attacked; Indian weapons recovered from the terrorists". Nation.com.pk. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
  9. 1 2 Dennis Lynch (8 June 2014). "Militant Attack On Karachi Airport In Pakistan Claims 23 Lives, At Least 14 Wounded". International Business Times. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  10. ↑ caapakistan.com.pk - Aviation Statistics Archived 13 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ "ThePost News Updates! - Pakistan, Real Estate and Telecom News!". ThePost News Updates!. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "Contact Us Archived 22 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine.." Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan. Retrieved on 3 May 2010.
  13. ↑ "Contact Us." Pakistan International Airlines. Retrieved on 23 February 2010.
  14. ↑ "Contact Us: Domestic." Shaheen Air. Retrieved on 28 July 2010.
  15. ↑ "Jinnah International Website". Archived from the original on 25 April 2010.
  16. ↑ "World Aero Data: JINNAH INTL -- OPKC". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  17. ↑ https://www.airportia.com/flights/ia431/najaf/karachi/
  18. ↑ "Pakistan International files preliminary Bangkok schedule from Sep 2017". routesonline. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  19. ↑ 2017, UBM (UK) Ltd. "Pakistan International moves Kashi service to May 2017".
  20. ↑ 2017, UBM (UK) Ltd. "Serene Air outlines 1Q17 operations".
  21. ↑ Archived 5 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  22. ↑ "Star Air Aviation (Pvt) Ltd". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  23. ↑ "Turkish Cargo S15 Operations". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  24. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-48C (DC-3) VT-AUG Korangi Creek". aviation-safety.net.
  25. ↑ CPAL crash details Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 13 January 2011
  26. ↑ Chesterfield, Lyn. "Hermes prang". Aeroplane. No. January 2011. Kelsey Publishing. p. 82.
  27. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  28. ↑ "22 killed when small plane crashes in Pakistan". CNN International. July 5, 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  29. ↑ Hradecky, Simon. "Crash: Sun Way IL76 at Karachi on Nov 28th 2010, engine fire". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  30. ↑ "Karachi airport attack". Dawn. Dawn. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  31. ↑ "CAA suspends Air Indus' operations for violating safety regulations". Dawn. Dawn. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  32. ↑ Davies, Greg. "ATR crash is PIA's tenth hull loss since 2000". Fligh. Flightglobal. Retrieved 8 December 2016.

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