A Saga of Delays: Islamabad Airport Inauguration Postponed 3-4 Months

No international airports operating company has submitted a bid for operating Islamabad international Airport, which may further delay its opening by 3 to 4 months.

According to the Aviation Division, it was decided that the Islamabad international Airport would be operated by an International Airports operating company. The last date of submitting bids was 21st December 2017. However, no company submitted their bids.

Now the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is working on the operationalization plan, which may take 3 to 4 months to complete.

According to available documents, New Airport at Islamabad will be the first Greenfield Airport of Pakistan and it has been substantially completed.

There are two parts regarding:

• completion of project,
• the Operationalization of the Airport.

These parts are answered separately:

Completion of Projects

i. The overall completion status of project is at 98%.

ii. Airside: Runway Taxiways, Air Traffic Control Tower, Radar, Navigational & visual Aids and Aircraft parking stands is completed tested and ready for Operationalization of Airport.

iii. Landside: All facilities on Landside i.e. Access Roads, Parking areas, Cargo, Water Works, Electricity Grid Station and Sewerage Treatment Plant already completed and tested and are in use. The Construction of Additional works on Landside i.e. Central Mosque, ASF Barracks, and Aviation Building is in final Finishing stage.

iv. Terminal Building: is substantially completed. The installation testing and commissioning of equipment and systems is complete. It includes HVAC Elevators & Escalators, Check-in Counters, Immigration, Counters, and Furniture etc. However, integration of Baggage handling & special systems with building management and fire alarm is in process under supervision of project Management Consultants.

Operationalization of Airport

i. New Airport at Islamabad is the first GREENFIELD AIRPORT of Pakistan and is substantially completed.

ii. It was decided that Islamabad international Airport would be operated by an International Airports operating company. The last date of bid submission was 21st December 2017. However, no company submitted their bids. Now CAA is working on the operationalization plan, which may take 3 to 4 months to complete.