DI Khan, Bannu airports inept for international flights

Officials say it is necessary to facilitate passengers from southern districts

PESHAWAR: The joy of people from southern districts after the prime minister announced international flights from DI Khan Airport was short-lived. Sooner or later, they realised the terminal was only for domestic travel. Those who heaved a sigh of relief over not having to travel all the way to and from Bacha Khan International Airport (BKIA) were left with a bitter pill to swallow.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during his recent visit to DI Khan, directed Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to resume flights from the airport. He said it would be an international terminal for people to travel to other cities and countries.



“No, it is not possible,” a senior aviation official told The Express Tribune. “We have the infrastructure, but it depends on the airline which will only provide services when they see business [opportunities].”

Requesting anonymity, the official said international flights to and from DI Khan and Bannu airports were just announcements as the airports required not just infrastructure, but needed to be a viable business for the airlines.

The official added these airports would start international flights only during Hajj or Umrah seasons as 3,000 people from the southern districts go for the pilgrimage.

He believed it was important to focus on all major airports.

“I can say that BKIA is the busiest facility in the country as it not only caters to the needs of the province, but also to people travelling from tribal areas,” the official said.

However, there is another way out to facilitate the southern district.



“If the premier really wants to facilitate travellers, connected flights should start from DI Khan, Bannu and Saidu Sharif airports which will carry passengers to BKIA,” the official added

He said ATRs could provide services between DI Khan, Peshawar, Bannu and Saidu Sharif airports, enabling people to not only benefit from the airports, but also save time.

“They travel all the way from the southern districts and spend nights in Peshawar, which can be costly,” another CAA official said. “PIA took the inaugural flight from Swat and that was the first and last flight from that facility as only two people purchased tickets in three months—that too for domestic use.”

He added flights from Peshawar to Islamabad and Islamabad to Lahore were almost nil as passengers used motorways, which were not only more affordable, but less time consuming.

On the other hand, CAA officials at BKIA said the planning and development department already started work on upgrading the facility for international flights.

BKIA Manager Tahir Sikandar said work started and the runway, terminal building as well as land acquisition were being planned by the P&D directorate in the federal capital. He also stated that the expansion of work at BKIA was underway and some 15% was completed. He assured that all expansion work will be completed in the stipulated time.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2016.