Faisalabad International Airport

فیصل آباد انٹرنیشنل ایئر پورٹ
IATA: LYP – ICAO: OPFA LYP Location of airport in Pakistan
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
Serves		Faisalabad
Location		Punjab, Pakistan
Elevation AMSL		607 ft / 185 m
Coordinates		31°21′54″N 072°59′41″E / 31.365°N 72.99472°E / 31.365; 72.99472
Website		http://faisalabadairport.weebly.com فیصل آباد انٹرنیشنل ایئر پورٹ
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	m	ft
03/21	2,826	9,272	Concrete
Source: DAFIF[1][2]

Faisalabad International Airport (IATA: LYP, ICAO: OPFA) is situated on Jhang Road, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) away from the city centre of Faisalabad, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is not as large as the other airports in Pakistan, as it operates to cater mainly to the population of Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh, Rabwah, Sargodha, Bhawana and Lalian.

History

The airport traces into origins not too far into the past. The founder of the city decided that Faisalabad (Lyallpur) had a strategic position within the British Empire. In 1942, the local government gave permission for the construction of a bricked strip measuring 5000' by 100'. Various regional aircraft used the strip for a short time however as technology progressed the airstrip became quite out-dated. The national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines began domestic operations in 1958 operating various flights from Karachi to expand on exports and imports from the city. It was not until 1965, the bricked airstrip was re-built to meet standards at that time. The surface was built using bitumen and the length of the runway increased to 9000' by 100' to allow the airport to handle larger jet fuelled aircraft. During 1966-1967 the construction of an airport terminal and an apron to handle prop aircraft such as the Fokker F-27 Friendship was constructed.

In 1972 a new parallel runway with dimensions 9000' by 100' was constructed west of the existing runway, since the existing runway had deteriorated quite significantly. The new runway was designed to handle even larger aircraft such as the Boeing 737. In 1974 a jet apron, Taxiway-B, Air Traffic Control building and Met offices were constructed. A premium lounge and ILS were installed in 1985. In 1986 the terminal building was extended to accommodate greater number of passengers and meet future growth in air travel for the city. In 1991, the old runway was widened, strengthened and extended reaching dimensions of 9270' by 150' with surface bitumen to accommodate Airbus aircraft such as Airbus 310s. In 1993, CIP Lounge was constructed and terminal building was extended to accommodate greater travel growth. In 1998, direct Hajj operations were started from the airport annually, allowing more flights and traffic growth for the airport.

Due to more flights and greater estimates of passenger growth of the airport. Faisalabad International Airport is expected to be re-developed to meet the growth patterns for the next decade. However the CAA of Pakistan has not finalised the plans on the construction. According to a report on December 17, 2008 the Ministry of Defence chairman, Chaudhary Mukhtar Ahmed announced that the airport apron and taxi-ways would be upgraded so it can handle larger wide-body aircraft. Allocation of Rs. 100m have been allocated from the Annual Development programme.

Faisalabad Need International Standard Airport

An aircraft marshaller guiding an aircraft into the apron

Faisalabad is a major export generator for Pakistan, many have criticised why the airport has not been developed into a large cargo hub to meet international growth and improve the city's economy. The airport is expected to be upgraded to make it compatible to meet the growth of future flights and cargo operations. It is a fact that CAA plans to upgrade facilities at Faisalabad Airport. The proposal includes up-gradation of Apron and Taxiway for operations by wide body aircraft. Both up-gradation works is planned during the current financial year for which Rs. 100 million has been catered for in the Annual Development Programme. Direct Hajj flights from Faisalabad and shifting back of PIA offices from airport to city as well as appointment of PIA district manager office are being carried out on immediate basis. This assurance was given to Rana Arif Tauseef, newly elected Chairman Pakistan Textile Exporters Association by Secretary Defence Lt-Gen (r) Syed Athar Ali during a meeting at Islamabad. Rana Asif Tauseef, Minister of state for privatization and Rana Zahid Tauseef, former district Nazim Faisalabad also participated in the meeting. Talking to newsmen after his return from Islamabad here, Rana Arif Tauseef stated that he had apprised the secretary defence of the difficulties being faced by the pilgrims from Faisalabad and surrounding areas. He said that in the absence of direct flight, the intending pilgrims have either to rout their travel towards Karachi and Jeddah onward or have to travel by road to reach Lahore airport for onward travel. This circumlocutory travel becomes unbearable for the old age and weak pilgrims and also involved 12 to 14 hours travel time instead of direct flight time of 5 hours. In view of this cumbersome exercise starting direct hajj flights from Faisalabad has become imperative, he said.He also apprised the Secretary Defence that PTEA had financially assisted the civil aviation in upgrading the Faisalabad airport for international flights. However due to some unknown reasons the dream of international flights has remained unfulfilled. He emphasized that Faisalabad was third biggest city of the country and a textile centre of international repute and export originating destination. Large number of foreign buyers visits Faisalabad while the local exporters frequently travel to Europe and the US and have succeeded in exporting textile worth $4 billion annually. He further stated that all over the world, businessmen are resorting to air routes for faster transportation of their export goods instead of the sea routes. While the Faisalabad exporters are constrained to export through sea rout in the absence of air cargo export facility. PTEA Chairman also demanded shifting back of PIA offices from airport to city which had been shifted to airport in the after math bomb blast March last. He also demanded appointment of full fledged district manager PIA which seat is lying vacant since long. As a result of which the travel business is heavily suffering and Faisalabad citizens are diverting towards Lahore and Karachi. Secretary Defence assured the chairman that all these difficulties would be removed in near future.

Structure

Lounges

• One domestic and international lounge each.
• One executive lounge for premium passengers as well as a CIP lounge for diplomatic/VIP guests.
• Snack and gift shops are also available in the departure lounge as well as internet Wi-Fi facilities.

Apron

• Nose-in parking for 1 wide-body aircraft such as Airbus A310 plus 2 prop aircraft such as ATR/F-27 aircraft at a time.

Runway

• 9,271 ft long ILS equipped runway at an elevation of 607 feet.

Additional

• Pakistan State Oil provide fuel services to all airlines flying out of the airport.
• Many televisions/FIDS systems located in the lounges and briefing concourses showing television programs and flight information.
• Airport Mosque located outside the airport at the far end of the car park.
• Porter services and Rent-A-Car services (such as world reputable companies, Hertz) are available.

Airlines and destinations

Faisalabad Airport Map

Clearing Runway

{{Airport-dest-list | Pakistan International Airlines | Karachi,Multan,Rahim Yar Khan,Bahawalpur | Pakistan International Airlines | Dubai,Abu Dhabi | nas Air | (Coming Soon)

Cargo

{Airport-dest-list | Faisalabad Flying Club | Islamabad, Karachi | Pakistan International Airlines | Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore | Star Air | Karachi | TCS Courier | Karachi

Statistics

The following table provides details of the major traffic flows out of Faisalabad in terms of passenger numbers, aircraft movements, cargo as well as mail. The results were collected by the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan^[3]:

Year	Aircraft movements	Passengers (Intl & Domestic)	Cargo handled (M. Tons)	Mail handled (M. Tons)
2005	2,610	182,966	1 223	2 696

Incidents and accidents

• 0n 28 May 1973, A Pakistan International Airlines Fokker F-27 Friendship crashed after striking trees 800m short of the runway. All passengers and crew survived the crash, however, the aircraft was written off since it was damaged beyond repair.

Faisalabad Airport Website

http://faisalabadairport.weebly.com/

See also

• List of airports in Pakistan
• Airlines of Pakistan
• Transport in Pakistan
• Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority

References

1. ^ Airport information for OPFA at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.Source: DAFIF.
2. ^ Airport information for LYP at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective Oct. 2006).
3. ^ Statistical Information of CAA Pakistan CAA Pakistan, assessed 08-03-2009

External links

• CAA Pakistan - official site
• Accident history for LYP at Aviation Safety Network