Saidu Sharif Airport to Reopen to Facilitate Tourists

[Abbas Ali]

MINGORA: Malakand Division Commissioner Syed Zaheerul Islam on Sunday said Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (Rtd) Nasirul Mulk had taken notice of the prolonged demand of reopening the Kanju Airport for domestic flights and people of Swat would soon hear good news in this regard.
He was speaking to the delegation of local government representatives and local elders led by Kabal Tehsil Nazim Rahmat Ali.

The Malakand Commissioner said the Swat valley had a great tourist attraction and it would be necessary to facilitate the tourists to explore its natural beauty to the outward world. He said that the Prime Minister was taking a keen interest in re-opening of the Kanju Airport.

Source: The News

[Abbas Ali]

Today, the National Assembly was informed that PIA flights to/from Saidu Sharif Airport are suspended due to lack of passengers.

Facilities at the airport were damaged by terrorists in 2008. The airport was rehabilitated in 2014.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Today, Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed in a meeting with Acting CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik discussed re-opening of Saidu Sharif Airport. Operationalization of the airport will help in promotion of tourism in the region, the minister said.

Abbas

[ammad]

Today, Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed in a meeting with Acting CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik discussed re-opening of Saidu Sharif Airport. Operationalization of the airport will help in promotion of tourism in the region, the minister said.

Abbas

In my opinion this route will be in loss even if it is once daily ATR flight.

Swat Motorway project is progressing well, which makes this potentially new route at difficult situation to operate.

[Abbas Ali]

Saidu Sharif Airport to be reopened

1/30/2019

ISLAMABAD: The government has in principle decided to make the Saidu Sharif Airport in Swat operational to promote tourism in the country.

Established in 1978, the airport used to handle two flights a day from Islamabad and Peshawar but it was closed down when the law and order situation in the valley deteriorated.

As part of preparations for reopening the airport, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) chief operating officer met with Federal Minister for Communication Murad Saeed, who also belongs to Swat.

According to a statement, the minister said Swat is one of the most beautiful areas in the country and that making the Saidu Sharif Airport operational will help promote tourism.

He said PIA`s collaboration is imperative for reopening the airport.

Source: DAWN

[Abbas Ali]

Saidu Sharif Airport to open in October’

MINGORA: The Saidu Sharif Airport would be opened for domestic flights in October this year, an official said on Saturday.

"The 1,400 kanal land worth Rs2 billion has been acquired to make the airport as per international standard, which will go a long way in facilitating the tourists," Deputy Commissioner, Swat, Saqib Raza Aslam told reporters here.

The DC said the government was committed to promoting tourism in the country. "All possible steps are being taken to promote tourism in the region," he said, adding, about 1.7 million tourists had visited Swat last year and we expect around 2.7 million tourists this year."

Source: The News

[Abbas Ali]

1400-kanal land acquired at a cost of two billion rupees to upgrade Saidu Sharif Airport to international level.

Resumption of flight operations at the airport expected by October this year.

Re-opening of the airport will solve problems faced by tourists in Malakand division.

Last year, seventeen lac tourists came to Swat.

Number of tourists expected to increase to thirty lacs in coming years.

Swat motorway, Kalam road and Saidu Sharif Airport will promote tourism and bring prosperity to the area.

PAF Vice Air Chief a number of times gave briefing to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Miniser on rehabilitation of the airport.

https://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPup ... e=20190519

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to news sources:

A privately-owned company has agreed to start flight operations to & from Saidu Sharif Airport and in this regard will sign an agreement with Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the coming days.

The air service is expected to start at Saidu Sharif Airport in next two to three months.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

[Abbas Ali]

Residents hail Saidu Sharif airport’s reopening after 25 years closure

Fazal Khaliq

June 05, 2019

MINGORA: The residents of Swat have appreciated the government’s decision to operationalise the Saidu Sharif Airport after 25 years closure.

The airport established in 1978 remained operational until 1994. It used to handle two flights from Islamabad and Peshawar daily.



The residents told Dawn that Swat had great potential for tourism due to the presence of picturesque, religious and archaeological sites.

“Resumption of the airport’s operation was our longstanding demand as it promises not only our development but also the promotion of tourism,” he said.

The travel agents said over 1,000 people travelled abroad on a daily basis and majority of them used to take flights from Saidu Sharif airport before it was closed down.

“A large number of people from this region work in Middle East, Malaysia, UK, US and other countries. They first land in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and then travel to their hometown by road. All this not only cost them a lot of money but also waste their time,” travel agent Imtiaz Khan said.

He said the authorities should begin flights from Lahore and Islamabad to Swat and not from Peshawar as the provincial capital wasn’t far away from Swat.

The local traders welcomed the development and said the airport’s reopening would boost their business mostly done with people based in the big cities of Punjab.

“From 15 to 20 buses go to Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala from Swat carrying traders and businessmen daily but they often complain about travel hardships and robberies,” said Wajid Khan, a Mingora Bazaar trader.

He said PIA or other airlines should begin flights between Swat and Lahore to ease the traders’ problems.

The tour operators and hotel owners also hailed the operationalisation of the airport and said it would promote tourism in the region.

“A man from Sindh or Balochistan has to travel for 24 hours nonstop to reach here and at times the journey lasts 30 hours and therefore, no from there comes here,” he said.

He said many residents of Swat lived in Karachi for work or other purposes and they used buses to reach their hometown and therefore, a flight from Karachi to here is a must to facilitate them and tourists,” said hotel owner Wakil Khan.

President of All Swat Hotel Association Zahid Khan said Buddhist pilgrims from across the world wanted to visit Swat to see their holy places.

“Buddhists need air travel facility for Swat from big cities of Pakistan. The reopening of the Saidu Sharif airport will boost international tourism,” he said.

Ikramullah, a representative of travel agents in Swat, said the Saidu Sharif airport would be used by the residents of seven districts of Malakand division for being the nearest one.

He said around 300 Swat residents went to Saudi Arabia for Umrah daily using airlines other than PIA and therefore, the Saidu Sharif airport’s reopening would boost PIA’s earnings a great deal.

Mr Ikramullah said 97,000 residents went overseas last year for employment.

When contacted, Swat’s deputy commissioner Saqib Raza Aslam said rehabilitation of Saidu Sharif airport was in progress and he was confident that the airport would be made operational before Oct.

Source: DAWN

[harry786]

It is great to see that this airport is opening up again. I hope this brings more tourism to the region.

Although, one should also note that the Swat motorway is about to open as well that is drastically cutting travel times. Would PIA be able to sustain an ATR flight daily? People would love to travel by car or by bus if they can get there in an hour from Islamabad.

[Abbas Ali]

Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan during a meeting in Peshawar with Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Air Officer Commanding Northern Air Command Air Vice Marshal Abdul Moeed Khan directed authorities to shift within three months an irrigation canal which is a hurdle in the development of Saidu Sharif Airport.

The airport has gained importance due to increasing trade and tourism in the region and provincial government will cooperate for speedy completion of airport's construction/development work, said CM Khan.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that the issues hindering the construction of runway of the Saidu Sharif Airport should be resolved within three months as the airport will play an important role in the promotion of tourism and trade activities.

The chief minister was told that Saidu Sharif Airport would be established on the model of joint user airport following international standards, which will also cater to the international flights of PIA.

Additional runway along with the existing one will be constructed to improve the standard of the airport.

Source: The News

[Abbas Ali]

Pakistan CAA team visited Saidu Sharif Airport to review airport's terminal building and air traffic control tower. The airport's runway construction work is completed.

On a week's notice, facilities can be provided to airlines interested in starting operations to/from Saidu Sharif Airport.

The runway is capable of handling ATR turboprop aircraft flights.

Future planning includes operation of Airbus A320 flights to/from Saidu Sharif Airport.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has said that Saidu Sharif Airport boundary wall and runway construction work has been completed.

The airport will become operational soon. The airport will help in bringing tourists to the picturesque valley. Flights to/from the airport will also be a speedy mode of transportation for the people traveling to/from Malakand division.

Abbas