
Kabul International Airport, also known as Khwaja Rawash Airport, is located 16km from the city centre of Kabul, Afghanistan. It is one of the country's main international airports, capable of housing over a hundred military and civilian aircraft. The airport has a single runway, which is 3,500m long, 50m wide, and covered with asphalt. It is currently operated by UAE-based GAAC Holding and Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Northern part of Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Distance from Kabul city center | 16 km |
| Altitude | 1,791 m (5,876 ft) above sea level |
| Surroundings | Parts of the Hindu Kush mountains |
| Climate | Continental, semi-arid with brief, cold winters and long, hot, dry summers |
| Operators | UAE-based GAAC Holding and Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation |
| Airlines | Ariana Afghan Airlines, Kam Air, Safi Airways, Pamir Airways, Air India, East Horizon Airlines, Emirates, Silk Way Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Spicejet |
| Destinations | China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Persian Gulf region, Dubai |
| Military base | Yes, for various defence forces and capable of housing over 100 military and civilian aircraft |
| Runways | 1, 3,500 m long, 50 m wide, covered with asphalt |
| Taxiways | 14 |
| Aprons | 19 |
| Terminals | 2 (new and old) |
| Eateries | Several new eateries |
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Kabul International Airport is 16km from Kabul, Afghanistan's capital
Kabul International Airport, also known as Khwaja Rawash Airport, is located 16km from Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. It is one of the country's main international airports and is capable of housing over a hundred military and civilian aircraft. The airport is located in the northern part of Kabul and sits at an altitude of approximately 1,791 m (5,876 ft) above sea level. It is surrounded by parts of the Hindu Kush mountains.
The airport has a single runway, which is 3,500m long, 50m wide, and covered with asphalt. It also has 14 taxiways and 19 aprons. Kabul International Airport is the primary airport in Afghanistan and serves as a military base for various defence forces. It is also the main hub for several Afghan airlines, including Ariana Afghan Airlines, Kam Air, Safi Airways, and Pamir Airways. The airport provides scheduled flights to and from various countries, including China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia.
The airport has a new and old passenger terminal, which handle international and domestic flights, respectively. The new terminal was built with an investment of $35 million from the Japanese government and can handle approximately one million passengers a year. It is equipped with free wireless internet access, a post office, a gym, a clinic, and restaurants. The existing terminal has been refurbished and features several new eateries.
Kabul International Airport has a long history, dating back to the 1920s when it was built during the Kingdom of Amanullah Khan. It housed aircraft from the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Post. The airport was modernized in 1960 by Soviet engineers, and foreign tourists began visiting Afghanistan via Kabul Airport. However, this era ended after the 1978 Saur Revolution and the subsequent Soviet invasion in 1979. The airport has since been used by various military forces and has undergone several name changes.
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The airport is also known as Khwaja Rawash Airport
The Kabul International Airport, located in the northern part of Kabul, Afghanistan, is one of the country's main international airports. It is capable of housing over a hundred military and civilian aircraft. The airport was originally named Khwaja Rawash Airport because it was built in the area called Khwaja Rawash.
The airport was locally named and known as Khwaja Rawash Airport. It was built during the Kingdom of Amanullah Khan in the 1920s and housed aircraft of the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Post. The airport was modernized in 1960 by Soviet engineers, and a terminal and concrete runway were built. This led to the airport being renamed Kabul Airport.
Foreign tourists began visiting Afghanistan via the airport during this time. However, this era ended after the 1978 Saur Revolution and the subsequent 1979 Soviet invasion. The airport was then used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet-Afghan War from 1979 to 1989 and later by the military forces of the former President of Afghanistan, Mohammad Najibullah.
The airport has undergone several name changes throughout its history. From 2014 to 2021, it was named Hamid Karzai International Airport in honour of former President Hamid Karzai. After the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the name was changed back to Kabul International Airport.
The airport has also been the site of several aviation incidents and tragedies. In 2005, a Kam Air Flight operated by Phoenix Aviation vanished from radar screens during poor weather conditions, resulting in a massive search operation. Unfortunately, the wreckage was found two days later, and all 104 passengers and crew on board had perished.
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It is the primary airport in Afghanistan
Kabul International Airport is located in the northern part of Kabul, Afghanistan. It is one of the country's main international airports, capable of housing over a hundred military and civilian aircraft. It is currently operated by UAE-based GAAC Holding and Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. The airport is managed by the Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA).
The airport was originally named Khwaja Rawash Airport because it was built in the area named Khwaja Rawash. It was given the name Kabul Airport in 1960 after the Soviet Union built a terminal and a concrete runway. The airport was modernized in 1960 by Soviet engineers. From 2014 to 2021, it was named Hamid Karzai International Airport in honour of former president Hamid Karzai. After the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the name was changed back to Kabul International Airport.
Kabul International Airport has been the military base for various defence forces over the past four decades as Afghanistan suffered various political and international conflicts. The airport continues to serve as a military base and is also the main hub for Ariana Afghan Airlines, Kam Air, Safi Airways, and Pamir Airways. The airport has a single runway, which is 3,500 metres long, 50 metres 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. It is surrounded by parts of the Hindu Kush mountains and sits at an altitude of approximately 1,791 metres above sea level. The airport has a new and old passenger terminal, which handle international and domestic flights, respectively. The new terminal has a capacity of approximately one million passengers per year and provides facilities such as free wireless internet access, a post office, a gym, a clinic, and restaurants.
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The airport has been used as a military base by various defence forces
Kabul International Airport, also known as Khwaja Rawash Airport, is located 16 km from the city centre of Kabul, Afghanistan. It is one of the country's main international airports, capable of housing over a hundred military and civilian aircraft. The airport has been used as a military base by various defence forces over the past four decades as Afghanistan suffered through various political and international conflicts.
The airport was originally built during the Kingdom of Amanullah Khan in the 1920s to house aircraft for the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Post. It was modernized in 1960 by Soviet engineers, who constructed a terminal and a concrete runway. The airport was then used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet-Afghan War from 1979 to 1989. Control of the airport switched between different sides during the civil war after 1992. By November 1996, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, governed by Mullah Muhammad Omar, had taken possession of the airport.
Following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks, Kabul Airport was bombed by U.S. and coalition forces. After the ISAF took control, the airport began to be developed slowly. A new radar system was installed in 2005, and a new $35 million terminal for international flights was inaugurated in November 2008. The existing terminal has been refurbished and is used for domestic flights.
The airport has a number of empty military bases, which were previously used by the United States Armed Forces and NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and later the Resolute Support Mission (RS). The Afghan Air Force also had a base at the airport, with the Afghan National Security Forces providing security inside the passenger terminals.
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It has a single runway, 3,500m long and 50m wide
Kabul International Airport, also known as Khwaja Rawash Airport, is located in the northern part of Kabul, Afghanistan. It is one of the country's primary international airports, capable of housing over a hundred military and civilian aircraft. The airport is currently operated by UAE-based GAAC Holding and Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.
The airport has a single runway, which is 3,500 metres long and 50 metres wide. This runway is surfaced with asphalt and is accompanied by 14 taxiways and 19 aprons. The airport is situated at an altitude of approximately 1,791 metres above sea level and is surrounded by parts of the Hindu Kush mountains. It is connected to the city by a four-lane highway, with buses, taxis, and private cars available for transportation.
Kabul International Airport has been a significant hub for military activity over the years, serving as a base for various defence forces due to the country's political and international conflicts. It has also been subjected to attacks, such as the 2014 Taliban rocket attack, and has undergone several renovations and upgrades to its facilities and security measures.
The airport is a crucial hub for several Afghan airlines, including Ariana Afghan Airlines, Kam Air, Safi Airways, and Pamir Airways. It offers scheduled flights to various destinations, primarily in the Middle East and Subcontinent regions.
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Frequently asked questions
Kabul International Airport is located 16km from the city center of Kabul, Afghanistan.
The airport code for Kabul International Airport is KBL/OAKB.
Kabul International Airport sits at an altitude of approximately 1,791 meters (5,876 feet) above sea level.
The airport has a single runway, which is 3,500 meters long and 50 meters wide. It also has 14 taxiways and 19 aprons. The airport has a new and old passenger terminal, free wireless internet access, a post office, a gym, a clinic, and restaurants.
























