Jinnah International Airport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jinnah International Airport جناح بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا
IATA: KHI ICAO: OPKC
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner/Operator	Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority Manager: Afsar Malik
Location	Karachi-75200, Sindh, Pakistan
Opened	1924 (101 years ago) (1924)
Hub for	Pakistan International Airlines
Elevation AMSL	100 ft / 30 m
Coordinates	24°54′24″N 67°09′39″E / 24.90667°N 67.16083°E / 24.90667; 67.16083
Map
KHI/OPKC Location in Pakistan Show map of Pakistan KHI/OPKC Location in Asia Show map of Asia
Runway
Runway Length Surface m ft 07R/25L 3,400 11,155 Concrete 07L/25R 3,200 10,500 Concrete
Statistics (July 2021 - June 2022)
Passengers 5,165,904 Passenger change 53.4 Aircraft movements 42,508 14.13% Cargo handled 94,560 metric tons

Jinnah International Airport (Urdu: جناح بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا) is Pakistan's busiest airport for both international and domestic flights. It used to be called Drigh Road Airport or Karachi Civil Airport. In 2017–2018, over 7.2 million passengers used this airport!

The airport is in Karachi, which is the biggest city and business center of Pakistan. It's named after Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was the founder of Pakistan. This airport is also one of the oldest airports in the world.

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) manages the airport. It's a main base for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which is Pakistan's national airline, and also for other airlines like airblue. The airport has special facilities for fixing and maintaining airplanes, including the Ispahani Hangar which can handle very large planes.

History of Jinnah International Airport

Early Flights and Famous Visitors

One of the first airlines to fly to Karachi was Imperial Airways in December 1926. Back then, Pakistan was part of British India.

A very important moment happened on October 15, 1932. J. R. D. Tata, who is known as the father of civil aviation in British India, flew a plane carrying mail from Mumbai (then called Bombay) to the Drigh Road airstrip in Karachi. This was a big step for air travel in the region!

The Giant Airship Hangar

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, there was a huge black airship hangar at the airport site. It was built for a British airship called the R101, which was one of the biggest aircraft ever made. Only three such hangars were built in the world!

However, the R101 never actually made it to Karachi. It crashed in France just 8 hours into its first flight, and sadly, most of the people on board died. Even though the R101 never arrived, this giant hangar became a famous landmark in Karachi. Pilots often used it as a guide when landing their planes. The hangar was eventually taken down in the 1960s.

World War II and Airport Growth

During World War II, Karachi Airport became a very important base for the United States Air Force. It was used to move troops and equipment for battles in India, Myanmar, and China. Many bomber and fighter planes flew through Karachi before heading to their missions. The airport also had big facilities for repairing and supplying aircraft.

The airport continued to grow after the war. In the 1980s, new parts called Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 were added. The main airport building we see today, called the Jinnah International Complex, was built in 1994. Now, the new Jinnah Terminal handles all flights. Terminal 2 is used for special Hajj flights (pilgrimages), and Terminal 1 (the original airport) is now the main office for Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority. Terminal 3 is used for business offices.

Changes Over Time

Karachi Airport used to be even busier between the 1960s and 1980s. Many famous airlines like BOAC (now British Airways), Qantas, and Pan Am flew there. It was a major international hub for PIA, with direct flights to many places around the world.

Over time, some things changed. Other airports, like Dubai's, became more popular. Also, planes could fly longer distances without stopping. Because of these reasons, and some political issues in Karachi during the 1990s, some airlines stopped flying to the airport.

Recently, things have become more stable, and some airlines have started flying to Karachi again. However, the airport is still working to reach the same level of activity it had in its busiest years. In March 2006, Pakistan International Airlines started a nonstop flight to Toronto using Boeing 777 planes. In 2016, the airport added 12 new boarding bridges, but it hasn't had any other major upgrades since the Jinnah Terminal opened in 1992.

Airport Structure and Facilities

Interior of the terminal

Aerial view of Jinnah International Airport taken in 2010

Jinnah International Airport can handle up to 12 million passengers each year. In the 2008–2009 financial year, more than 5.7 million passengers used the airport, and there were over 50,000 airplane takeoffs and landings.

This airport is a very important base for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), and also for other Pakistani airlines like airblue, SereneAir, Fly Jinnah, and AirSial.

The main airport building connects to two satellite areas. Each satellite has eight bridges that passengers use to get on and off planes. The eastern satellite is mainly for international flights, while the western satellite is used for domestic flights and some international ones. These satellites also have shops, phone charging spots, and snack counters.

The Jinnah Terminal was finished in 1992. It cost about US$100 million, making it the most expensive building project in Pakistan at that time.

There are special lounges at the airport, like the CIP Lounge, which can be used by passengers flying in First or Business Class. Some banks and airlines also have their own lounges. You can also find bank kiosks and ATMs at the airport.

Ispahani Hangar

The Ispahani Hangar is a large airplane maintenance hangar at Jinnah International Airport. It's named after Mirza Ahmed Ispahani, who was the first chairman of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). This hangar can fit two large wide-body airplanes and one smaller plane at the same time. Most of PIA's planes are checked and repaired here. The PIA maintenance team also works on planes from other airlines.

The main office of the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan is located in Terminal 1. Pakistan International Airlines also has its head office and other important centers, like its training center, on the airport grounds.

Terminals

KLM were the first world airline to serve Karachi in 1924

Jinnah Airport has one main terminal building. It's divided into two main areas and has five floors:

• The Jinnah East Satellite Concourse is used for international flights.
• The Jinnah West Satellite Concourse is used for domestic (within Pakistan) flights.

Runways and Aprons

The airport has two runways. One is 3,200 meters long, and the other is 3,400 meters long. Both runways are wide enough for even the largest airplanes, like the Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A350 XWB. They can handle 15 flights per hour, meaning planes can land and take off at the same time.

The runways are equipped with a system called ILS CAT-I. This system helps guide planes to land safely even when the weather is very bad or visibility is low, like in fog. The airport's parking area is very large and can hold 42 airplanes, with 12 of them connecting directly to the terminal building through air bridges. There are also extra parking spots for 30 more planes.

Airlines and Destinations

Passenger Flights

• Air China's flight from Beijing to Karachi stops in Islamabad. However, the flight from Karachi to Beijing is direct.

Cargo Flights

Airport Statistics

The tables below show how many planes, passengers, and cargo have moved through Karachi Airport over the years. This information is collected by the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan.

Getting To and From the Airport

Jinnah International Airport is located close to busy areas like Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Malir. You can easily reach it from anywhere in the city by using Shahrah-e-Faisal Road.

The airport has a large parking area that can hold over 3,000 vehicles.

You can also find buses, mini-buses, and taxis to take you to and from the airport. Traditional auto-rickshaws are also available, which are popular for shorter trips around the city.

The closest train station is Karachi Cantonment railway station, where you can catch trains to other parts of Pakistan. There's also a smaller train station called Karachi Airport Station, which is about 2 kilometers southwest of the main Jinnah Terminal.

Notable Aviation Incidents

Here is a list of some aviation incidents that have happened at or near Jinnah International Airport:

See also

In Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional Jinnah para niños

• Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
• Transport in Pakistan