Multan International Airport
Multan Airport AMSL | 122.8 m / 403 ft | ||||||||||
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Coordinates | 30°12′12″N 071°25′09″E / 30.20333°N 71.41917°E | ||||||||||
Website | Multan International Airport | ||||||||||
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Runways | |||||||||||
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Statistics (2019-2020) | |||||||||||
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Multan International Airport (IATA: MUX, ICAO: OPMT) is an international airport located 4 km west of Multan, Pakistan.[1] The airport is South Punjab's largest and busiest airport. Multan International Airport offers flights throughout Pakistan, as well as direct flights to Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
In March 2015, a new terminal building was formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister Emeritus of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.[2] Following the opening of the new terminal, passenger traffic soared from 384,571 in 2014–2015, to 904,865 in 2015–2016.[3]
History
Early beginning
Multan International Airport traces its origins to the British Empire, when the Royal Air Force used the open space to fly in and out of the region during 1919.[4] The area was used for aircraft that were able to land on gravel and grass surfaces. In 1934, Imperial Airways started to use the airfield for civil aircraft flights since Multan was considered a strategic position in the Punjab province of India. It was not until 1938 that Imperial Airways started to operate regular flights out of Multan. The flight would originate in Lahore, then fly into Multan, where it would continue its journey to Jacobabad and then Karachi.[citation needed]
Following the independence of Pakistan from the British, Pak Air, a new airline to the dominion, started operations from Multan Airport. Multan Flying Club was also set up at the airport within the same year.[citation needed] It was not until the birth of the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines, in 1957, that PIA started operations from Multan Airport using Douglas DC-3 aircraft.[citation needed] In 1963, due to growth of the number of flights and larger aircraft requirements, the runway, taxiways and aprons where carpeted using bitumen. A new control tower was constructed to meet the technological changes at that time. In 1971, as PIA had acquired Boeing aircraft, the runway was extended to 2,743 by 30 m (9,000 by 100 ft) to handle heavier aircraft and more passengers.[citation needed] The terminal building was extended in 1977, which also allowed the airport to handle Boeing 720 aircraft. In 1980–1988, the airport runway was strengthened and re-carpeted for the arrival of the Airbus A300. It was not until 1999 that Pakistan International Airlines and the private airline Aero Asia operated international flights from the airport. Flights began to destinations in the Middle East such as Dubai and Kuwait.[citation needed]
Recent development
As the demand for air travel began to surge, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority decided to upgrade the facilities for the airport in 2005.[5] Initially the runway was upgraded to handle Boeing 747-400 operations at a cost of Rs 720m. On 15 December 2006, Shaheen Air started four weekly flights from Karachi to Multan.[6] The airport also reported an operating profit of Rs 1bn within that year.[7]
In December 2007, Director General CAA, Farooq Rehmatullah held a press conference that the terminal building would be expanded as well as airside facilities at a cost of Rs4.5bn.
In January 2010, the
During 2011,
In March 2015, the new terminal of Multan International Airport was formally inaugurated by PM
After the transfer of all operations to new terminal,
Structure
Multan International Airport is fitted with all the essentials for domestic and international flights with the inauguration of the new terminal. The information below is correct as of April 2016.[16]
- Apron
- Four boarding jet bridges (Bay-1, 2, 3 and 4).
- Two wide-body and four narrow-body aircraft nose in parking available.[17]
- Equipped with complete airfield lighting system (dimensions: 230 m × 145 m (755 ft × 475 ft) with 11 m (35 ft) shoulders)
- Runway
- ILS/DME VOR/NDB equipped 18/36 runway (dimensions: 3,204 m × 46 m (10,512 ft × 151 ft) with 7.6 m (25 ft) shoulders on each side).
- Capable of handling up to Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-300ER, and Airbus A340-600 aircraft.
- Instrument Landing System and Cat-I AFL System.[18]
- High Intensity Lighting System.
- Parallel taxi-way running alongside Runway 18/36 for speedy exit and departure.
- Emergency alternative for Islamabad and Lahore.
- Airport Services
- Pakistan State Oil provide fuel services to all airlines flying out of the airport. (Jet A-100)
- Fire fighting and Rescue Services. ICAO Category-9.[19]
- FIDS systems located in the lounges and briefing concourses showing television programs and flight information.
- Airport Masjid located outside the terminal on the right hand side.
- Airport Medical Center located adjacent to CAA Masjid.
- Rent A Car facility and Metro Radio Cab Services.
- Custom and Immigration for international flights
- Airline Ticketing offices (Pakistan International Airlines, airblue, flydubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Gulf Air).
- Ground Handling Agents
- Pakistan International Airlines.
- airblue Ltd.
- Royal Airport Services (RAS).
- Gerry's DNATA[20]
- Cargo Complex
- Cargo/Freight Services provided by Pakistan International Airlines, booking can be made at PIA Booking Office located at Abdali Road or Airport Cargo Office.
- International Cargo/Freight Service provided by Emirates as their flights are capable of carrying up to 23 tonnes of cargo which helps local exporters to send their cargo to any of 78 countries in the world where Emirates operates.
- Flying Schools/ Institutions
- Multan Flying Club
- Additional
- Pakistan Meteorological Department
- Ramada Hotels counter
- Foreign Currency Exchange Counter
Airlines and destinations
Airlines | Destinations |
---|---|
Air Arabia | Sharjah |
Abu Dhabi
| |
airblue | Dubai–International, Jeddah, Sharjah |
AirSial | Jeddah |
flydubai | Dubai–International |
Gulf Air | Bahrain |
Qatar Airways | Doha[22] |
SalamAir | Muscat |
Saudia | Jeddah |
Access
Car
Multan International Airport is situated in the well populated area of cantonment and it is easily accessible through Airport Road by using Jamil Abad Road from any part of the city. There is a drop off lane at the front of the terminal as well as a wide car parking area which can accommodate more than 400 vehicles.
Taxi
Metro Radio Cab Services provides service directly from the airport and their counter is situated at the landside of the terminal to book the cab.
Private rental car facilities are also available at the airport.
Rickshaw
There are also a number of traditional auto-rickshaws available at the airport parking area and entrance which are quite popular to travel short distances within the city.
Train
Multan Cantonment railway station is the nearest railway station, less than 3 km away from the airport to get the railway connections to other parts of the country.
Statistics
The following table provides details of the major traffic flows out of
Year | Aircraft movements (Commercial) | Passengers (Intl. and Domestic) | Cargo handled (M. Tons) | Mail handled (M. Tons) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005-06[24] | 4,902 | 262,582 | 1,623 | N/A |
2006-07 | 3,901 | 240,573 | 1,273 | 49.52 |
2007-08 | 3,943 | 250,661 | 932 | 31.966 |
2008-09 | 2,474 | 237,358 | 1,006 | 27.59 |
2009-10 | 3,390 | 151,135 | 86 | 5.02 |
2010-11 | 3,789 | 218,830 | 553 | 7.34 |
2011-12 | 4,089 | 228,312 | 489 | 9.87 |
2012-13 | 2,732 | 211,165 | 352 | 11.83 |
2013-14 | 3,950 | 359,342 | 415 | 3.26 |
2014-15 | 3,512 | 404,268 | 413 | 1 |
2015-16 | 8,295 | 946,389 | 1,468 | 1 |
2016-17 | 9,122 | 1,167,105 | 4,447 | 2 |
2017-18 | 10,680 | 1,339,179 | 7,114 | 1 |
2018-19 | 8,335 | 997,978 | 6,230 | 1 |
Incidents and accidents
2000s
- On 10 July 2006, a Flight PK688suffered engine problems soon after take-off, causing the pilot to lose control. The aircraft crashed in a nearby grassy field, causing it to catch fire on impact leaving all 45 passengers and crew dead.
See also
- List of airports in Pakistan
- Airlines of Pakistan
- Transport in Pakistan
- Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
References
- ^ http://www.multaninternationalairport.com.pk Multan International Airport
- ^ http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/03/10/business/multan-airport-opens-to-the-world/ airport opens to the world
- CAA Pakistan, updated on 14 March 2016
- ^ http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/86230/g-aiwc-air-contractors-douglas-dc-3/ Air Contractors DC-3, Parked at Multan, Pakistan
- ^ http://www.historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10401 Multan International Airport Runway Repair To Cost Rs 720m
- ^ Shaheen Air International News Releases Archived 7 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ http://dailytimes.com.pk/Multan-Earns-One-Billion-Profit/[permanent dead link] PIA Multan Earns Over Rs 1bn In 2007
- ^ http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/ CAA to spend Rs 4.5bn for Multan Airport upgradation
- ^ http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=721519&currPageNo=2&query=&search=&term=&supDate= Work On Multan International Airport Upgradation To Start In June
- ^ http://www.ecil.com/ Press Release: Multan Upgrade Project
- ^ http://www.caapakistan.com.pk/ CAA Tender Notices: Upgradation of Multan Airport
- ^ http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/03/10/business/multan-airport-opens-to-the-world/ airport opens to the world
- ^ ""www.pakcargoservice.co.uk"".
- ^ http://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/flydubai-announce-flights-to-faisalabad-1.1535392 Flydubai announced it would increase its frequency for Multan
- ^ http://www.gulfair.com/English/aboutgulfair/Pages/News.aspx?newsno=849[permanent dead link] Gulf Air Adds Faisalabad and Multan to Pakistan Network
- ^ http://www.multaninternationalairport.com.pk Multan International Airport
- ^ http://www.multaninternationalairport.com.pk Multan International Airport
- ^ http://www.multaninternationalairport.com.pk Multan International Airport
- ^ http://www.multaninternationalairport.com.pk Multan International Airport
- ^ "Dnata". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015. Gerry's dnata expands its footprint with three new airport locations in Pakistan
- ^ "Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is introducing direct flights to a fifth destination, Burayda, located in northern Saudi Arabia.Route". 18 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ Casey, David. "Route Analysis: Doha-Multan". Routesonline. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- CAA Pakistan, updated on 14 March 2016
- ^ "A-Z World Airports Online - Pakistan airports - Multan International Airport (MUX/OPMT)". Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
External links
Media related to Multan International Airport at Wikimedia Commons
- Airport information for OPMT at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
- Current weather for OPMT at NOAA/NWS
- Accident history for MUX at Aviation Safety Network