Kabul Airport's Massive Scale: A Comprehensive Overview

Kabul International Airport, also known as Khwaja Rawash Airport, is located 16km away from Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. It is the largest airport in Afghanistan and is capable of housing over a hundred military and civilian aircraft. The airport has a single runway, which is 3,500m long. The airport has a new and an old passenger terminal, with the new terminal handling international flights and accommodating approximately one million passengers a year.

The airport has a single runway, 3,500m long

Kabul International Airport, also known as Khwaja Rawash Airport, is located 16km from Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. It is the largest airport in Afghanistan and one of the country's main international airports. The airport serves as a hub for several Afghan airlines, including Ariana Afghan Airlines, Kam Airlines, Safi Airways, and Pamir Airways.

The history of Kabul International Airport dates back to the 1920s when it was originally built during the Kingdom of Amanullah Khan. It was initially used by the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Post. The airport was modernized in 1960, with the addition of a concrete runway and a terminal built by Soviet engineers. During the Soviet-Afghan War from 1979 to 1989, the airport was utilized by the Soviet Army.

Over the years, the airport has undergone renovations and expansions to increase its capacity and improve its facilities. In 2012, a $20 million project was undertaken with funding from the Japanese government, which included terminal expansion, security tower renovation, and the construction of additional entrance gates. The new terminal, built with a $35 million investment from the Japanese government, can handle approximately one million passengers annually.

It is one of Afghanistan's main international airports

Kabul International Airport, also known as Khwaja Rawash Airport, is located 16km away from Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. It is one of the country's main international airports and the primary airport in Afghanistan. The airport sits at an altitude of approximately 1,791 m (5,876 ft) above sea level and is surrounded by parts of the Hindu Kush mountains.

Kabul International Airport has a single runway, which is 3,500m long, 50m wide, and covered with asphalt. It also has 14 taxiways and 19 aprons. The airport is connected to the city by a four-lane highway, with buses, taxis, and private cars available for transport between the two. The airport has both a new and an old passenger terminal, which handle international and domestic flights, respectively. The new terminal can accommodate approximately one million passengers per year and was built with an investment of $35 million from the Japanese government between 2005 and 2009. The terminals offer various amenities, including free wireless internet access, a post office, a gym, a clinic, and restaurants.

Kabul International Airport has been a significant military base for various defence forces over the past four decades, given the country's political and international conflicts. It has served as a base for US and NATO forces and was attacked by the Taliban in 2014, who fired rockets into the military wing, damaging several helicopters. The airport also houses the command facilities for the Afghan Air Force (AAF) and includes administrative, operations, maintenance, and recreation facilities.

The airport is a hub for several Afghan airlines, including Ariana Afghan Airlines, Kam Airlines, Safi Airways, and Pamir Airways. It previously provided scheduled flights to and from China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and the Persian Gulf region. The most frequently serviced destination from the airport has been Dubai in the UAE, with multiple airlines offering daily flights.

The airport has three terminals, with a fourth under construction

Kabul International Airport, also known as Khwaja Rawash Airport, is located 16km from Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. It is the largest airport in Afghanistan and is the primary airport in the country, serving as a hub for many Afghan airlines, including Ariana Afghan Airlines, Kam Airlines, Safi Airways, and Pamir Airways. The airport also serves as a military base for various defence forces and has a capacity of over 100 aircraft.

The airport currently has three terminals, with a fourth under construction. Terminal 1, inaugurated in 2006, hosts international flights and features state-of-the-art technologies, ensuring travellers' comfort and safety. Terminal 2 is dedicated to domestic flights and offers 20,886 square metres of technical and commercial space, with a capacity of 2.5 million passengers per year. Terminal 3 is for charter and low-cost flights and was upgraded in 2008. It has an area of 11,088 square metres and can accommodate up to 1 million passengers annually.

The new terminal, known as Terminal West, was scheduled for completion in 2019, with a planned capacity of 10 million passengers per year and a vast technical and commercial space of 214,588 square metres. This terminal will significantly enhance the airport's capacity and business development prospects.

Kabul International Airport has a single runway, measuring 3,500 metres in length and 50 metres in width, and is covered with asphalt. It also features 14 taxiways and 19 aprons. The airport is easily accessible from the city by a four-lane highway, and various transportation options, including buses, taxis, and private cars, are available.

It is located 16km from Kabul, in the north of the city

Kabul International Airport, also known as Khwaja Rawash Airport, is located 16km from Kabul, in the north of the city. It is the largest airport in Afghanistan and the primary airport in the country, serving as a hub for many Afghan airlines, including Ariana Afghan Airlines, Kam Airlines, Safi Airways, and Pamir Airways. The airport is also a significant military base, housing over a hundred military and civilian aircraft and serving as an army base for US and NATO forces.

The history of Kabul International Airport dates back to the 1920s when it was originally built during the Kingdom of Amanullah Khan. It was initially used by the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Post. The airport was modernized in 1960 by Soviet engineers, and foreign tourists began visiting Afghanistan through Kabul Airport. However, this era came to an end after the 1978 Saur Revolution and the subsequent Soviet invasion in 1979. The airport was renamed Hamid Karzai International Airport after the former Afghan head of state and president.

Kabul International Airport has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years. In 2012, the Afghan Ministry of Transport and Aviation signed a $20 million contract with Japan for terminal expansion, security tower renovation, and the construction of additional entrance gates. The new terminal, built with aid from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, was inaugurated in November 2008 and officially opened to international flights in June 2009. This terminal has a capacity of approximately one million passengers per year and is equipped with modern facilities, including free wireless internet access, a post office, a gym, a clinic, and restaurants.

The airport has a single runway, 3,500 metres long and 50 metres wide, covered with asphalt. It also features 14 taxiways and 19 aprons. Kabul International Airport is easily accessible from the city, with a four-lane highway connecting it to Kabul. Buses, taxis, and private cars are available for transportation between the airport and the city. The airport is surrounded by parts of the Hindu Kush mountains and sits at an altitude of approximately 1,791 metres above sea level.

It is the primary airport for the country and serves as a military base

Kabul International Airport, also known as Khwaja Rawash Airport, is the primary airport in Afghanistan. It is located 16km away from Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The airport has a single runway, which is 3,500m long, 50m wide, and made of asphalt. It also has 14 taxiways and 19 aprons. Kabul International Airport is the largest airport in Afghanistan, covering a total area of 850 hectares. The airport is operated by UAE-based GAAC Holding and Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. It is also the main hub for Afghan airlines such as Ariana Afghan Airlines, Kam Airlines, Safi Airways, and Pamir Airways.

Kabul International Airport has a long history, dating back to the 1920s when it was originally built during the Kingdom of Amanullah Khan. It was initially used to house aircraft for the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Post. The airport was modernized in 1960 by Soviet engineers, and a terminal and concrete runway were built. After the Soviet invasion in 1979, the airport was used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet-Afghan War.

Over the years, the airport has served as a military base for various defence forces as Afghanistan endured political and international conflicts. It was used by the military forces of the former President of Afghanistan, Mohammad Najibullah. Control of the airport changed hands multiple times during the civil war after 1992. In 1996, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, led by Mullah Muhammad Omar, took possession of the airport until the US invasion of Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks.

The airport has undergone significant development and expansion projects over time. In 2012, the Afghan Ministry of Transport and Aviation signed a $20 million contract with Japan for terminal expansion, security tower renovation, and the construction of additional entrance gates. The new terminal, built with Japanese aid, can handle approximately one million passengers per year and is equipped with modern amenities. The airport has a capacity of over 100 aircraft and is capable of handling a growing number of passengers, with plans for further expansion to accommodate increasing air traffic in the region.

Frequently asked questions