First mock PIA flight lands at newly built Islamabad airport

First mock flight of the Pakistan International Airlines has touched the runway of newly built Islamabad airport. 

However, the airport will be inaugurated formally on April 20 for regular international and domestic flights. The old Benazir Bhutto International Airport will be transferred to the new airport between April 19 and April 20.

PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Musharraf Rasool Cyan observed the mock exercise.

PK-9001 departed from Benazir International Airport at 1:00pm (Saturday PST) and  landed at the new Islamabad airport around 1:30pm. The flight was scheduled to take off at 12:30pm but was delayed as the boarding process of some PIA pilots and their families who were on board took longer than expected. 

The “Y” shaped new airport spreads over 19 square kilometers with 15 jetties (passenger boarding bridges), including facilities to accommodate two double-deck A380, the world’s largest airplane, 15 remote bays and seven remote bays for small aircraft such as ATRs. It will be the biggest international airport in the country in terms of landing and passenger handling facilities.

People took to Twitter to post their views about the newly Islamabad airport and some of them posted pictures of the new airport.

Latest clicks of #Islamabad new International Airport. #Pakistan 🇵🇰 💐 pic.twitter.com/ZojnXSXjpC

— Islamabad (@Islaamabad) April 7, 2018

The construction work on the new airport located 30 km from Islamabad started in April 2007. 

The new airport will have five level security systems for baggage check, a food court, mini-cinema, children’s play area and car parking for 2,200 to 2,500 vehicles. Besides the public car parking, a separate car parking has been built for the airport staff.

Five conveyor belts for international arrival lounge and three for domestic arrival lounge have been erected to facilitate the passengers. Passenger lounges are decorated with truck artworks.

The national carrier has redesigned its logo and painted the portrait of Markhor on the  PIA aircraft. On Friday, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Aviation Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan inaugurated a new livery of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in Islamabad.