Faisalabad International Airport
IATA: LYP – ICAO: OPFA
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		caapakistan.com.pk/...
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, Toba Tek Singh, Chenab Nagar and Sargodha.

[edit] 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 ciy. 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. However as of 2005, Hajj flights now fly via Karachi.

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.

[edit] Structure

Faisalabad is a major export generator for Pakistan, many have critised 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. ^[3] There are also reports that the airport maybe privitised.^[4]

An aircraft marshaller guiding an aircraft into the apron

Pakistan State Oil provide fuel services to all airlines flying out of the airport.

[edit] Statistics

The following table provides details of the major traffic flows out of Faisalabad interms of passenger numbers, aircraft movements, cargo as well as mail. The results were collected by the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan^[5]:

[edit] Airlines & destinations

Passengers walking (airside) into the terminal after arriving at the airport

[edit] Domestic

[edit] International

[edit] Cargo

[edit] Incidents

• In May 28, 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.

[edit] See also

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

[edit] 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. ^ Interview with the Ministry of Defence
4. ^ What to Expect in 2008
5. ^ Statistical Information of CAA Pakistan CAA Pakistan, assessed 08-03-2009

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Faisalabad International Airport

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

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