Parachinar Airport resumes operations after extended closure

PESHAWAR: Parachinar Airport in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district has been reactivated and is now operational after remaining inactive for a long period, following renovation and repair work carried out through the efforts of the Frontier Works Organisation and the Pakistan Airports Authority.

The restoration of the airport is being seen as an important development for the return of air transport services in the region. Pakistan Army Aviation conducted trial operations at the airport on April 26 to examine the standard of construction and upgradation work, along with runway performance and the facility’s overall readiness for operations.

During the assessment, Pakistan Army Aviation carried out six successful landing and takeoff trials. After these tests, the runways were declared in line with professional standards and safety protocols.

The airport and its runways were tested under different operational scenarios during the trial phase. Following the successful completion of these exercises, the airport’s operational capacity is expected to be strengthened further.

The reopening is expected to improve regional connectivity and support emergency response efforts, while also contributing to economic activity in the area.

Assessment for reopening had begun earlier

Last year, officials of the Pakistan Airports Authority and Pakistan International Airlines visited Parachinar Airport to review whether it could be made operational for commercial and humanitarian flights.

The government had also constituted an eight-member committee comprising officers from the PAA and PIA to examine the airport’s infrastructure and the prospects for reopening it.

The committee carried out a detailed inspection of key facilities at the airport. These included the terminal building, runway, fire garages, accommodation, generator room and other operational installations.

The latest development follows that earlier review process and the subsequent renovation and repair work that led to the airport being made functional again.

The successful trial landings and takeoffs by Pakistan Army Aviation marked the final stage in assessing whether the airport met the required standards for safe use. With the runways cleared after testing, the airport has now resumed operations after a prolonged hiatus.

The reactivation of Parachinar Airport is expected to play a role in improving access to the district and strengthening transport links for the wider region.