Sialkot International Airport
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| Sialkot International Airport سیالکوٹ بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا |
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| IATA: SKT – ICAO: OPST | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Operator | Sialkot International Airport Limited | ||
| Serves | Sialkot | ||
| Location | Sambrial | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 837 ft / 255 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Website | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 04R/22L | 11,811 | 3,600 | Asphalt |
Sialkot International Airport (IATA: SKT, ICAO: OPST) is situated 14 km (8.7 mi) west of Sialkot in the Sialkot District of Pakistan. Approximately 1,000,000 travellers from Sialkot and adjacent areas would benefit from this mega project each year.
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[edit] History
The export oriented industrial city of Sialkot had long felt the need of an international passenger and cargo airport. The nearest one was in Lahore which is about 125 km away. The federal government promised the industrialists of Sialkot an international airport but due to beauracratic red-tape, indifference by the government and more importantly its proximity to Indian occupied Kashmir and the periodic shelling from across the border, no work could be started. Finally, tired of foot-dragging, Sialkot's industrialists in the late 80's agreed to build the airport themselves and sought the federal government's approval. On February 2 2001, approval was granted after a decade of negotiations with the federal government and construction of an international airport at Sialkot for passenger and cargo traffic began. A team of directors were approved, under the chairmanship of Mian Muhammad Riaz (CEO of Dr. Frigz International & three times chairman for SIAL) all of whom placed personal wealth into the project as a primary investment. Each director on the board had previous experience of running sizeable and successful enterprises, therefore they were all selected due to this knowledge. Also, with Rs 5 million of personal investment in the project by each one of them, the directors had a direct stake in its profitability. As the development of SIAL went on, the number of directors had reached 250 and it was decided to close membership to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors at SIAL inspired confidence that the potential of the airport project will be fully realized. On February 26 2001, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan with the approval of Ministry of Defence for the construction of the international airport in Sialkot.
By March 24 2005, Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) formed under the auspices of the Chamber. On March 26 2005, The first plane landed on the newly constructed Sialkot International Airport runway, that was built to handle a fully loaded Boeing 747 as SIAL future plans involved dealing with heavy aircraft for cargo imports and exports. PIA test flight PK-613 landed at the Sialkot International Airport on October 20, 2007.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between PIA and Sialkot International Airport Authority for mutual cooperation and joint promotion of Sialkot International Airport. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Anwaar Rasul Khan, Senior Vice President (Sales) PIA and Mian Naeem Javed, Director, Sialkot International Airport.
First and biggest ever international airport constructed in the private sector in Pakistan, at a cost of over Rs 2.6 billion became operational on November 30, 2007. President Pervez Musharraf formally inaugurated the Rs 2.6 billion Sialkot International Airport Tuesday, December 11, 2007, the country’s first built by the private sector.
[edit] Structure
Sialkot is a major export hub of Pakistan. The airport is being upgraded to make it compatible to carry the load of three Boeing 747s. The airport authority is currently working with a private company to develop th airport to meet international standards. The airport has developed a brand new runway so heavier aircraft can land there. There is a new terminal currently being built to deal with increase in passengers as well as cargo imports and exports.
- Services
- Fuel farm
- Aircraft ground maintenance services
- Catering
- Other related services through concessions to private parties.
- Runway;
- 3,600 meter long, 45-meter wide with 7.5-meter wide shoulders on either side corresponding to International Civil Aviation Organization Category 4E.
- Link Taxiway;
- 263-meter long, 23-meter wide with 10.5-meter shoulders.
- Aprons;
- For passenger and cargo, 45,000-Sq meter area. Combination of flexible and rigid pavements.
- Nose-in parking for 4 wide-bodied aircraft at a time or 3 Airbus plus 3 F-27 aircraft at a time.
[edit] Airlines and destinations
[edit] Domestic
[edit] International
[edit] Planned
- Airblue (Dubai, Karachi, London) [planned 2008]
- Emirates (Dubai) [planned 2008]
- Kuwait Airways (Kuwait) [planned 2008]
- Sialkot Airways
- Lufthansa Cargo (Frankfurt, Sharjah) [Speculated]
- TCS Courier / DHL [Speculated]
[edit] Airport Pictures
[edit] Gallery
 Sialkot International Airport Tower |
 PIA Boeing 737 at Sialkot International Airport |
 PIA Boeing 737 at Sialkot International Airport |
 PIA Boeing 747-300 Jumbo Jet landed at Sialkot International Airport |
 Sialkot International Airport Plan |
 Sialkot International Airport main entrance |
 Aerial View of Sialkot International Airport |
 1st International Flight |
 1st national Flight |
[edit] References
- Sialkot International Airport, Sialkot, Pakistan - Airport-technology.com, Accessed 2008-02-06
- Sialkot International Airport - OurSialkot.com
- Feasibility of SIAL: Official Costs Reports - Accessed 2008-01-10
[edit] See also
- List of airports in Pakistan
- Airlines of Pakistan
- Transport in Pakistan
- Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
- Sialkot Cantonment Airport
- Sialkot International Airport Limited
- Sialkot
[edit] External links
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