Bahawalpur Airport Terminal Without Visitors' Lounge

[Abbas Ali]

By Majeed Gill

BAHAWALPUR, FEB 7 - The Sheikh Rashid Terminal of Bahawalpur Airport is without a visitors' lounge creating inconvenience for the people visiting the airport to receive or see off their relatives and friends.

The terminal was constructed after extension of runway to make it serviceable for Boeing flights and was made operational in 2006.

The terminal building when handed over to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had the seating facility for the visitors. But, later on, due the security reasons the entry of common visitors into the terminal building was banned.

Since then, those visiting the airport have not choice but to keep loitering or standing, in some cases for hours, till the arrival or departure of the flights concerned.

Outside the terminal building there is neither a shed nor any any other arrangement to protect the visitors, including the old, women and children, from rain, cold or scorching heat in the notorious summer season of the region.

Airport Manager Ghazanfar Abbas told DAWN on telephone on Sunday, that keeping in view the visitors' hardships the airport administration had forwarded two separate proposals to the CAA headquarters in Karachi, one regarding construction of a concourse, ablution place, a mosque and lavatories and conversion of the existing kiosk into a proper tuck shop and the other for building a parking shed. The CAA had yet to respond to these proposals, he added.

Source: DAWN (February 8 print edition)

[Abbas Ali]

Following photo accompanied this article, the photo shows Sheikh Rashid Terminal building of Bahawalpur Airport.

From this photo it appears that the airport does not offer shaded/covered place for visitors.

The entrance/exit on the right of side has 'Arrival' sign board and the entrance/exit on the left has 'Departure' sign board, which I think means only passengers and permitted airport officials/functionaries can pass through these two entrances/exits.


Photo Source: DAWN (February 8, 2011 print edition)

Abbas

[Umair94]

Yes Abbas, only people who have an ticket and pasport are allowed to get inside the terminal building. visitors have to wait outside. you got two buildings one arrival en the other departures. This airport has some loadshetting problems. I have some pics from them i will upload them later

[PK777]

All domestic airports need to be re-vamped.

I was at FSD acouple of months ago and it looks good but can be overcrowded. There isnt much traffic it gets a acouple of flights aday. They use a whiteboard to change timings of flights. It is pretty much in the same condition as it was several years ago but it looks well kept.

[Abbas Ali]

^ FSD ?

I guess you mean Faisalabad Airport which uses IATA code 'LYP' apparently issued when Faisalabad was known as Lyallpur.

Btw IATA code FSD is for Sioux Falls Regional Airport (Joe Foss Field) in South Dakota, USA.

When not sure about code of an airport then it's better to write complete name of that city/airport.

Abbas

[Muhammad Rafique]

You are right Abbas
In whole of the world, airports are known by their IATA codes. It is matter of great concern that Lyllpur have become Faisalabad since last 35 years (almost) but its IATA code could not be changed. Amazing, quite amazing.

Muhammad Rafique

[Abbas Ali]

Pakistan Civil Aviation Auhtority (CAA) tender notice in today's (May 28) newspaper for the construction of shed for meeters and greeters at Bahawalpur International Airport.



Abbas