CleanupBot II at 19:19, 13 August 2023

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{{Short description|Former airport of Islamabad, Pakistan (1930—2018)}}
{{for|the main public airport serving Islamabad|Islamabad International Airport}}
{{redirect|OPRN|the airbase currently using the ICAO code OPRN|PAF Base Nur Khan}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Benazir Bhutto International Airport
| nativename = {{nobold|{{Nastaliq|بینظیر بھٹو بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈے}}}}
| ensign = Pakistan_Civil_Aviation_Authority_(PCAA)_Logo.png
| image = Islamabad-Arrival-40105.JPG
| image-width = 
| image_alt =
| caption =
| image2 =
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| image2_alt =
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| IATA = <s>ISB</s>
| ICAO = OPRN
| FAA =
| TC =
| LID =
| GPS =
| WMO =
| type = Defunct
| owner-oper =
| owner = [[Pakistan]]
| operator = [[Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority]]
| city-served = [[Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area]]
| location = [[Chaklala, Rawalpindi]]
| opened = {{start date|1930|||df=y}} (as [[RAF Chaklala]])
| closed = {{end date|2018|05|03|df=y}}
| hub =
| focus_city =
| built = 
| used = 
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| metric-elev = y
| elevation-m = 508
| coordinates = {{coord|33|36|59|N|073|05|57|E|region:PK|display=inline,title}}
| website = 
| image_map =
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| pushpin_map = Pakistan Punjab#Pakistan
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Rawalpindi Pakistan
| pushpin_relief = Yes
| pushpin_image =
| pushpin_label = OPRN
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_mark =
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| metric-rwy = y
| r1-number = 12/30
| r1-length-m = 3,292
| r1-surface = Asphalt
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'''Benazir Bhutto International Airport''' ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|بینظیر بھٹو ایئر بیس}}}}, {{Airport codes||OPRN|p=n}}) is a defunct airport which formerly served the [[Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area]]. It was the second-largest airport by air traffic in [[Pakistan]], until 3 May 2018 when it was replaced by the new [[Islamabad International Airport]]. Also known as '''Chaklala Airbase''', it was renamed after the late Pakistani prime minister [[Benazir Bhutto]] in June 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geo.tv/6-20-2008/19590.htm |title=PM names Islamabad Airport as Benazir Bhutto International Airport – GEO.tv |access-date=1 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715153917/http://www.geo.tv/6-20-2008/19590.htm |archive-date=15 July 2015 }}</ref> The airport handled 4,767,860 passengers in 2015–16,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caapakistan.com.pk/upload/AT/stats/2015%20-%202016-APT.pdf |title=Major traffic flows by airports during the year (provisional data) |date=July 2015 – June 2016 |publisher=[[Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority]]}}</ref> compared to 3,610,566 in 2010–11.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caapakistan.com.pk/upload/AT/stats/2010%20-%202011-APT.pdf |title=Major traffic flows by airports during the year (provisional data) |date=July 2010 – June 2011 |publisher=[[Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority]]}}</ref>

The airport was located in the area of [[Chaklala, Rawalpindi|Chaklala]] in [[Rawalpindi]], which neighbours Islamabad. Following the establishment of the new [[Islamabad International Airport]], the airport is no longer used for civil aviation and now forms a part of the adjoining [[PAF Base Nur Khan]] (also known as PAF Base Chaklala).

==History and statistics==
[[Pakistan International Airlines]]' first direct flight from Islamabad to [[Toronto]] took off in March 2006. The carrier employed [[Boeing 777]]s on the route.<ref>{{cite AV media | url=https://historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4969 | title=Now fly non-stop Pakistan to Toronto in less than 14 hours! | publisher=Pakistan International Airlines | date=3 March 2006 | medium=Advertisement | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822030529/https://historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4969 | archivedate=22 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=4 March 2006 |title=PIA non-stop off to Toronto |work=[[Business Recorder]] |agency=Associated Press of Pakistan |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/3255280 |accessdate=25 August 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822025735/https://fp.brecorder.com/2006/03/20060304394062/ |archivedate=22 August 2022}}</ref> In the fiscal year 2008–2009, over 3,136,664 passengers used the former Benazir Bhutto International Airport and 34,025 aircraft movements were registered.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.caapakistan.com.pk/AviationStatistics/MTF%20by%20Airports%202008_09.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113170426/http://www.caapakistan.com.pk/AviationStatistics/MTF%20by%20Airports%202008_09.pdf|url-status=dead|title=caapakistan.com.pk – Major Traffic Flows By Airport During The Year 2008–09|archivedate=13 November 2022}}</ref> The airport served as a hub for the flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines. It was also the hub of [[Shaheen Air]] and a focus city of [[Airblue]].

In January 2015, the government launched a Rs. 399 million project to renovate and expand the airport, including the {{convert|1700|by|75|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on}} taxi way link adjacent to the lone runway of the airport.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Iftikhar A. |date=2015-01-03 |title=Islamabad airport set to get a new look |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1154716 |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en}}</ref> The renovation was completed by March 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=PakistanToday |date=22 March 2015 |title='Rs399m spent on renovation, expansion of Islamabad airport' {{!}} Pakistan Today |url=https://archive.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/03/22/rs399m-spent-on-renovation-expansion-of-islamabad-airport/ |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=[[Pakistan Today]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The last flight to depart from this airport was PK791 operated by Pakistan International Airlines, heading for Birmingham, UK which departed at 11:39 AM PST marking the end of scheduled commercial flights to the airport.<ref>{{cite news |date=3 May 2018 |title=Last flight departs from Benazir Bhutto terminal as new Islamabad Airport becomes operative |work=[[The News International]] |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/312217-last-flight-departs-from-benazir-bhutto-terminal-as-new-islamabad-airport-becomes-operative |accessdate=2 August 2021}}</ref>

== New airport ==
{{main|Islamabad International Airport}}
A [[Islamabad International Airport|new airport]] was constructed in [[Fateh Jang]], [[Attock District]], approximately {{convert|20|km}} west of the twin cities. It was built to replace the existing Benazir Bhutto International Airport in response to increasing air traffic and passenger load. It is now completed, and has become the first [[greenfield airport]] in Pakistan and the first to support the landing of [[Airbus A380]]. Built on an area of 3,289 acres, the project consisted of 90 check-in counters and a parking facility for 2,000 vehicles and will cater to an upward of 10 million people every year in its first phase and up to 25 million in the second phase. The terminal includes 15 gates with ten remote gates, a four-star hotel, duty-free shops, two runways, six taxiways, a food court and 42 immigration counters.

The airport is connected to Islamabad via the [[Srinagar Highway]], and Rawalpindi via the [[N-5 National Highway|GT Road]]. In April 2022, the [[Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus]] was expanded to connect the airport with the metropolitan area. The airport was opened for commercial flight operations on 3 May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2018 |title=New Islamabad International Airport to be operational from May 3: official |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/191704-new-islamabad-international-airport-to-be-operational-from-may-3-official |access-date=2018-04-18 |website=[[Geo News]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Facilities==
Benazir Bhutto International Airport was a civil and military airport which handled VIPs as well as public scheduled operations for many airlines. Foreign diplomats, high level government officials, as well as military officials were welcomed at this airport.

The airport was only able to handle eleven wide body aircraft at one time, with an additional five parking places for general aviation aircraft. It could not accommodate large aircraft such as the Airbus A380 or the [[Boeing 747-8]]. This airport did not have any air bridges installed, so buses took the passengers from the airport terminal to the aircraft where air stairs were used.

== Current status ==
Since the airport was built on an [[PAF Base Nur Khan|airbase]], the [[Pakistan Air Force]] has taken ownership of the apron and old terminal building of the airfield in a similar fashion to when Lahore's [[Allama Iqbal International Airport]] moved its terminals.

The runway is expected to remain in use by the PAF in the near future and VIPs and other dignitaries will continue to use the airbase instead of Islamabad International Airport.

General aviation by private companies is also expected to continue to use this airport instead of the new Islamabad International Airport.

==Accidents and incidents==
[[File:USAF C-17 at Chaklala AirBase.jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III|C-17]] belonging to the [[US Air Force]] delivering relief items during the [[2005 Kashmir earthquake]] (photo date Oct. 17, 2005).]]
[[File:PIA and Airblue Fleet.jpg|thumb|Pakistan International Airlines aircraft in the retro livery.]]
[[File:China Southern Airlines taxing.jpg|thumb|[[China Southern Airlines]] Boeing taxiing to the runway.]]
[[File:PIA Fleet in BBIA.jpg|thumb|PIA fleet as seen from waiting lounge]]
[[File:Benazir Bhutto International Airport parking lot.jpg|thumb|The airport's parking lot in 2016]]
* On 28 July 2010, [[Airblue Flight 202]], a domestic flight from Karachi operated by [[Airbus A321]] AP-BJB, crashed into the [[Margalla Hills]] in Islamabad while trying to land at the airport. The aircraft crashed into mountainous and wooded terrain near the city, killing all 152 people on board.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-07-28 |title=No survivors as Pakistan plane crash kills 152 |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-10784971 |access-date=2022-10-06}}</ref>
* On 20 April 2012, a [[Boeing 737-200]] (AP-BKC), [[Bhoja Air Flight 213]], which took off from Karachi's [[Jinnah International Airport]], was destined for Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport, but crashed near Chaklala, killing all 127 people on board.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Rezvi |first1=Mahawish |last2=Allbritton |first2=Chris |date=2012-04-21 |title=Pakistani plane crashes with 127 on board |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-aircraft-crash-idUSBRE83J0XG20120421 |access-date=2022-10-06}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of airports in Pakistan]]
* [[Airlines of Pakistan]]
* [[Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority]]
* [[Transport in Pakistan]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* [http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=203094&currPageNo=1&query=NIIA&search=1&term=2004-10-01|2005-12-31&supDate= Ground breaking ceremony of new Islamabad airport likely in April] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809233742/https://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=203094&currPageNo=1&query=NIIA&search=1&term=2004-10-01%7C2005-12-31&supDate= |date=9 August 2020 }}, ''Business Recorder'' (Pakistan's Financial Daily Newspaper), 2005-03-03.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061215164255/http://www.pakistanlink.com/Headlines/Jan06/07/10.htm CAA initiates $300m new Islamabad airport (NIIA)], ''Pakistan Link Headline News'', 2006-01-07.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060528035513/http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/jan2006-daily/07-01-2006/business/b1.htm CAA initiates $300m new Islamabad airport project], ''The News'' Business Section, 2006-01-07.
* [http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=133509 New Islamabad International Airport ready for ground breaking Ceremony]{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''PakTribune'', 2006-02-07.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213123/http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=63781 Turkish Airlines wants to operate daily flights to Karachi], ''The News'', 2007-07-10.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930171337/http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=78696 Progress in THY's Pakistan flights], ''Turkish Daily News'', 2007-07-19.

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Benazir Bhutto International Airport}}
* {{official website|islamabadairport.com.pk}}
* {{ASN|ISB}}
* {{SkyVector|OPRN}}
* {{NWS-current|OPRN}}

{{Pakistan airports}}
{{Pakistan International Airlines}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Airports in Punjab, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Airports in Islamabad]]
[[Category:Defunct airports in Pakistan]]
[[Category:World War II sites in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Transport in Rawalpindi]]

Benazir Bhutto International Airport - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 19:19, 13 August 2023