Sialkot airport becomes operational today

Sialkot: The first ever-private sector Sialkot International Airport would be formally operational with the landing of first regular passenger flight of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) from Karachi on Friday.

The mega project of Sialkot airport completed at a cost of Rs 2.6 billion has a great significance because it has been totally financed by the private sector and so far private sector had not built a project of this degree and extent in the country even in Asia.

This professionally designed airport had undertaken on the build, own and operate (BOO) basis and has been developed 1050 acres of land. The salient feature of Sialkot International Airport are the runway being one of the longest in the country is capable of undertaking operations of Boeing-747 and all other wide bodies aircrafts.

It is equipped with category-11 airfield lighting system with a provision for up-gradation to category-111, instrument landing system and various other navigational aids.

The 3,600 meters long with 300 meter overrun on both sides, 45 meter wide along with 7.5 meter wide shoulders on either side corresponding to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) category-4E while link Taxiway of the airport is 263 meter long, 23 meters wide along with 10.5 meter shoulders.

According to the study conducted by Nespak and MCP Research Network, the air traffic of the region is estimated to 446,000 passengers each year, which is expected to increase 6 percent per annum. These analyses are based on handing 30 percent of this available traffic from Sialkot Airport with the start of passenger operation.

Similarly, current air cargo from the region is around 24,000 tons per year that is expected to increase to 53,000 tons by year 2014. It is expected that the airport will handle almost 14,000 tones of air cargo in the first year of its operation. Several International and domestic airlines have planned to start their operations from Sialkot international airport.