Bannu Airport Expansion Approved

[Abbas Ali]

News report in December 9 edition of Urdu daily Jang.

https://e.jang.com.pk/12-09-2019/Pindi/ ... ame=44.png

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Steps are being taken to make Bannu Airport operational again.



On September 27, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Zahid Akram Durrani visited various areas of Bannu Airport and received briefing on the airport. Funds would be released soon to improve airport facilities, he said.



Abbas

[MikeTangoKiloAlpha]

Just one question: why?

[Amaad Lone]

This is another way of making money.

A budget of 715 million, and the actual money spent will be around 200 million.

After all people have to earn money for next elections.

Probably a local politician who wants this for votes.

[Abbas Ali]

Plan to expand/upgrade Bannu Airport for Airbus A320/Boeing 737 or equivalent aircraft operation.

Phase-I of the project includes land acquisition.



Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

In Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2022-23 seven-month period July 2022 to January 2023:

PKR 100 million allocated for Phase-I (Land Acquisition) of Bannu Airport extension/upgrade project to enable Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 category aircraft operations at the airport.

Abbas

[Karachi Aviator]

What a waste of funds. Someone needs to sack the guy in charge of planning these things. There aren't even ATR flights to Bannu and they expect it to receive A320s and 737s. DSK and PEW are easily accessible airports for passengers from Bannu. Unnecessary Expansion.

[MikeTangoKiloAlpha]

Lining the pockets of a few at the expense of the taxpayer. No wonder we're broke.

[Karachi Aviator]

Probably being done so their Private jets can land

[Guru]

What a waste of funds. Someone needs to sack the guy in charge of planning these things. There aren't even ATR flights to Bannu and they expect it to receive A320s and 737s. DSK and PEW are easily accessible airports for passengers from Bannu. Unnecessary Expansion.

I beg to differ. If Bannu becomes an international airport it would be beneficial not just for the people from Bannu and surrounding areas but also for the whole of Waziristan and the tribal belt. DSK is of hardly any use as it is a daylight-only operation and not capable of handling A320/B737. PEW is the only international airport in the region. It is too far by road from Bannu; it takes around 5-6 hours by public transport and a further few hours for people from Waziristan. Locals from the tribal area are working in the Middle East in huge numbers and right now PEW is the only option available to them. I think Bannu as an international airport would be very beneficial for the people from the area.

[Karachi Aviator]

If you look at it that way, opening an airport in every other city would be beneficial to the locals, does that mean there should be an airport in every city? If it really had this much potential, airlines would be eager to start flights to Bannu. Even PIA didn't bother flying it's ATRs to Bannu. There would be more flights to DSK as it's the closest, let it be in the morning using ATRs. There are other airports in Pakistan which are capable of handling a320 / b737, yet no one flies there ie: Sukkur, Turbat etc.

[Guru]

If you look at it that way, opening an airport in every other city would be beneficial to the locals, does that mean there should be an airport in every city? If it really had this much potential, airlines would be eager to start flights to Bannu. Even PIA didn't bother flying it's ATRs to Bannu. There would be more flights to DSK as it's the closest, let it be in the morning using ATRs. There are other airports in Pakistan which are capable of handling a320 / b737, yet no one flies there ie: Sukkur, Turbat etc.

You missed my point. I am talking about making Bannu an international airport. Domestic traffic and airports have totally different considerations.