Dera Ismail Khan Airport Rehabilitated

[Abbas Ali]

Dera Ismail Khan Airport rehabilitated and made functional.




Dera Ismail Khan Airport Runway 12/30

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

In November 1967, a Fokker F27 Friendship became the first PIA aircraft to land at then newly constructed Dera Ismail Khan Airport.


A PIA Fokker F27 Friendship at Dera Ismail Khan Airport.


File photo of PIA ATR 42 Islamabad to Karachi via Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Zhob & Quetta flight PK689.

In April 2023, submission of Express of Interest (EoI) for Master Planning, Feasibility Study and Design Services for the construction of new Greenfield Airport in Dera Ismail (D.I.) Khan was sought.



Work on the construction of greenfield airport in Dera Ismail Khan was expected to start in January 2025.



Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, May 29 (APP): On May 29, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi said that the efforts were being accelerated to restore commercial operations at Dera Ismail Khan Airport, adding that the facility would soon be made operational for ATR flights after completion of the remaining development work. The governor expressed these views during his visit to Dera Ismail Khan Airport.

The officials of the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) briefed him on the airport’s current condition and ongoing rehabilitation measures.



Talking to media representatives, Kundi thanked Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for his support regarding the revival of Dera Airport and said runway carpeting had already been completed, while additional work was in progress to restore regular flight operations.

He said Dera Airport had remained closed since 2015 and emphasized the need to overcome shortages of technical equipment and staff at the earliest. He added that audit and safety assessments were necessary before resuming commercial services.

The governor expressed hope that the defence minister would soon announce the complete restoration of commercial flight operations. He said meetings with South Air officials would also discuss launching flights for Dera Ismail Khan and Chitral.

Kundi said that the private airlines would be encouraged to expand operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to improve regional connectivity.

Source: APP

[Abbas Ali]

On June 1, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi met in Islamabad to exchange views on the resumption of commercial flights from Dera Ismail Khan Airport.



South Air to operate flights to/from Dera Ismail Khan. This was revealed during meeting between Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi and Chairman South Air Kanwar Muhammad Tariq.

Abbas

[Karachi Aviator]

I might be wrong but some of these airports might be used as forwad flying bases for the Air Force if needed, maybe that's why they are being upgraded. Otherwise operationally, it doesn't make sense to spend money when no airline is flying there.