Turbat Airport
Encyclopedia
Turbat International Airport is located at Turbat
, Balochistan
, Pakistan
. It has the largest land area within the province of Balochistan. It is the second largest airport, after Quetta International Airport
. The airport is located 5 km South of the city. The airport caters to the population of Turbat
and surrounding areas of Pidarak, Karkiabdar and Kalatak.
In 1979, the airport underwent a radical make-over that resulted in a re-carpeted runway as well as apron. A lounge for domestic arrival and departures was constructed in 1980. In 1983, a briefing area was constructed to allow family members of passengers seeing off their relatives was constructed as well as an Air traffic Control building. The main road to the airport was re-developed and constructed to meet international standards by 1984. The Pakistan State Oil
decided to provide aviation fuel to flights handled at the airport and built their own facility in 1994. The CAA of Pakistan decided to re-develop the airport in 2000, which housed the CAA administration office as well as a new ATC building. A new Arrivals lounge was constructed as well as a CIP premium lounge was inaugurated in 2003. A DVLS room was constructed in 2005. Custom and immigration facilities were upgraded in the same year. In 2008 new office building for airlines and airport operational staff were inaugurated. The local government and the CAA have reported to be upgrading the airport to meet international standards in 2009 with new lounges, control tower and more apron space to handle more flights.
Until very recently Pakistan International Airlines
was the only airline operating from the airport however Sharjah
based carrier Orbit Aviation has obtained clearance from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
to start twice weekly flights between Sharjah and Turbat via Gwadar
. These flights will commence once necessary arrangements are in place to facilitate the operation of international flights. Airblue
has also announced that it intends to start flying to Turbat in the near future after it started regular flights to Gwadar. The national carrier also launched operations to the capital of Oman, Muscat
in 2008.
Turbat
Turbat is a city located in southern Balochistan, a province of Pakistan. The town is the administrative center of Kech District and Turbat Tehsil, the town itself contains one Union council.-About:...
, Balochistan
Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan is one of the four provinces or federating units of Pakistan. With an area of 134,051 mi2 or , it is the largest province of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 population census, Balochistan had a population of...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. It has the largest land area within the province of Balochistan. It is the second largest airport, after Quetta International Airport
Quetta International Airport
Quetta International Airport is located at Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, Pakistan. The airport is the fourth highest airport in Pakistan . It is second largest airport in south region of the country, however the largest for the province of Balochistan. It is situated 12 km...
. The airport is located 5 km South of the city. The airport caters to the population of Turbat
Turbat
Turbat is a city located in southern Balochistan, a province of Pakistan. The town is the administrative center of Kech District and Turbat Tehsil, the town itself contains one Union council.-About:...
and surrounding areas of Pidarak, Karkiabdar and Kalatak.
History
Due to the geographical location, the airport has been only catering to the regional traffic it receives from its local city, Turbat as well as the surrounding towns and villages. The airport started out in the 1970s, where the CAA of Pakistan constructed a runway and an apron to handle small prop aircraft. A year later, the national flag carrier launched flights to the airport using Fokker F-27 Friendship aircraft. Due to lack of flights, PIA carried out their own handling at the airport and obtained responsibility of handling the airport operations. PIAC offices were inaugurated and allowed the airline to carry out the tasks at the airport.In 1979, the airport underwent a radical make-over that resulted in a re-carpeted runway as well as apron. A lounge for domestic arrival and departures was constructed in 1980. In 1983, a briefing area was constructed to allow family members of passengers seeing off their relatives was constructed as well as an Air traffic Control building. The main road to the airport was re-developed and constructed to meet international standards by 1984. The Pakistan State Oil
Pakistan State Oil
Pakistan State Oil is the oil market leader in Pakistan. Its well established infrastructure, built at par with international standards, represents 82% of country’s storage...
decided to provide aviation fuel to flights handled at the airport and built their own facility in 1994. The CAA of Pakistan decided to re-develop the airport in 2000, which housed the CAA administration office as well as a new ATC building. A new Arrivals lounge was constructed as well as a CIP premium lounge was inaugurated in 2003. A DVLS room was constructed in 2005. Custom and immigration facilities were upgraded in the same year. In 2008 new office building for airlines and airport operational staff were inaugurated. The local government and the CAA have reported to be upgrading the airport to meet international standards in 2009 with new lounges, control tower and more apron space to handle more flights.
Until very recently Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines Corporation commonly known as PIA, is the flag carrier airline of Pakistan. The airline has its head office on the grounds of Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. and operates scheduled services to 24 domestic destinations and 38 international destinations in 27...
was the only airline operating from the airport however Sharjah
Sharjah (city)
Sharjah is the third largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.Sharjah is the seat of government of the emirate of Sharjah...
based carrier Orbit Aviation has obtained clearance from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority is a regulatory authority, which oversees and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in Pakistan. Nearly all civilian airports in Pakistan are owned and operated by the CAA...
to start twice weekly flights between Sharjah and Turbat via Gwadar
Gwadar
Gwadar also known as Godar is a developing port city on the southwestern Arabian Sea coast of Pakistan. It is the district headquarters of Gwadar District in Balochistan province and has a population of approximately 50,000.Gwadar is strategically located at the apex of the Arabian Sea and at the...
. These flights will commence once necessary arrangements are in place to facilitate the operation of international flights. Airblue
Airblue
Airblue Limited is a private airline with its head office on the 12th floor of the Islamabad Stock Exchange Towers in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is Pakistan's second largest airline with over 20% share of the domestic market...
has also announced that it intends to start flying to Turbat in the near future after it started regular flights to Gwadar. The national carrier also launched operations to the capital of Oman, Muscat
Muscat, Oman
Muscat is the capital of Oman. It is also the seat of government and largest city in the Governorate of Muscat. As of 2008, the population of the Muscat metropolitan area was 1,090,797. The metropolitan area spans approximately and includes six provinces called wilayats...
in 2008.
Structure
Since the airport mainly caters to meet the need for local travellers and tourist passengers. The airport is regarded ideal to meet the number of flights and operations it has forecasted for the future. However, with air travel on the rise more is being invested at the airport to meet future needs.- Runway
- 6,000 ft runway with dimensions 1829 m by 30m
- Apron
- For passenger and cargo, 91m by 69m area.
- Combination of flexible and rigid pavements made of Bitumen.
- Nose-in parking for 2 narrow-bodied aircraft such as ATR/F-27Fokker F27The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
at a time.
- Lounge
- One domestic and international lounge each.
- Snack shops available
- Additional
- No aircraft maintenance facility at the moment.
- Fire Category at level CAT-4. Ambulance-01, Medium Fire Crash Tender-01, Water Bowzer-02, RIV-01.
- A Viewing VerandahVerandahA veranda or verandah is a roofed opened gallery or porch. It is also described as an open pillared gallery, generally roofed, built around a central structure...
for enthusiasts and visitors.
Airlines & Destinations
Events
- PIA Flight 544PIA Flight 544PIA Flight PK-554, a Pakistan International Airlines Fokker F27, was hijacked on May 25, 1998, shortly after it took off from Gwadar International Airport, by three armed men belonging to Baloch Students Organization...
carrying thirty passengers on a Fokker F-27 originated at the airport bound for GwadarGwadarGwadar also known as Godar is a developing port city on the southwestern Arabian Sea coast of Pakistan. It is the district headquarters of Gwadar District in Balochistan province and has a population of approximately 50,000.Gwadar is strategically located at the apex of the Arabian Sea and at the...
. Mid flight the aircraft was taken over by BalochBaloch peopleThe Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
militants asking more to be done about their province, due to lack of importance by the national Government. The aircraft landed at Hyderabad Airport in Pakistan where Pakistani commandos overtook the aircraft.
See also
- List of airports in Pakistan
- Airlines of PakistanAirlines of PakistanThe Pakistan aviation industry was started up when Orient Airways merged with Pakistan International Airlines Corporation to become the national flag carrier of Pakistan called Pakistan International Airlines...
- Transport in PakistanTransport in PakistanTransportation in Pakistan is extensive and varied but still in its developing stages and serving a population of over 170 million people. Construction of new airports, roads, and railway lines have led to an employment boost in the country. Much of Pakistan's road network and railway network...