The Uncertain Status Of Afghanistan's Airports: Navigating A Complex Landscape

As of 2024, there are 27 operational airports in Afghanistan, including five international airports: Kabul International Airport, Kandahar airport, Herat airport, and the airports in Khost and Mazar-i-Sharif cities. While some domestic and international flights are still operating, the country is seeking to resume international transit services. The full operation of Kabul airport is crucial for reviving Afghanistan's economy. However, no country has formally recognised the Taliban government, and nations are watching to see how the group will rule, especially given their history of human rights abuses during their 1996-2001 rule.

The Taliban government is asking airlines to resume international flights to Afghanistan

On September 26, 2021, the Taliban government in Afghanistan appealed for international flights to be resumed, citing Kabul airport's full operability and promising full cooperation with airlines. This request came a month after the Taliban's takeover of the country, which prompted a mass evacuation of foreigners and vulnerable Afghans.

The Taliban's foreign affairs ministry made the statement as the new administration sought to open up the country and gain international acceptance. While the airport has been repaired with the help of technical teams from Qatar and Turkey, normal commercial services have yet to resume. A limited number of aid and passenger flights have been operating, with some airlines offering limited services at much higher prices than normal.

The suspension of international flights has left many Afghans stranded abroad and prevented others from travelling for work or study. Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a foreign ministry spokesman, said:

> "As the problems at Kabul International Airport have been resolved and the airport is fully operational for domestic and international flights, the IEA assures all airlines of its full cooperation."

The IEA, or Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is the Taliban's term for their new government. Since taking power, the Taliban have faced a severe economic crisis and pressure on issues such as girls' education and allegations of reprisals against former officials.

As of February 2024, 27 airports were operational in Afghanistan, including five international airports: Kabul International Airport, Kandahar airport, Herat airport, and the airports in Khost and Mazar-i-Sharif cities. Afghan airlines have been flying to Pakistan, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, among a few other destinations. In May 2022, a UAE firm signed a contract to provide ground handling services at three Afghan airports, and a Qatar-Turkey consortium has been in talks with the aviation ministry to operate airports at five locations.

The Kabul airport is completely operational and ready for international flights

The full operation of Kabul airport is crucial for reviving Afghanistan's economy. The airport is currently serving domestic flights and has received some international flights from Qatar, Pakistan, and the UAE. The country's civil aviation authority has announced that technical issues have been resolved, and the airport is ready to resume normal activity.

The Taliban government has appealed for international flights to be resumed, promising full cooperation with airlines. They have assured airlines of their "full cooperation" and have allowed some international services to operate without issue. However, no country has yet formally recognized the Taliban government, and nations are watching to see how the group will rule.

Kabul airport is one of 27 operational airports in Afghanistan, including five international airports. The other international airports include Kandahar, Herat, Khost, and Mazar-i-Sharif. Afghan airlines currently offer flights to several destinations, including Pakistan, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The airport was damaged during the evacuation and has since been repaired

The Kabul airport was severely damaged during the evacuation. In the wake of the Taliban's seizure of the capital, thousands of people rushed to the airport in a desperate attempt to flee the country. The chaotic evacuation of tens of thousands of foreigners and vulnerable Afghans left the airport in a state of disarray. The situation was further exacerbated by a deadly suicide bombing attack on August 26, 2021, which killed 13 U.S. service members and about 170 Afghan civilians. The blast and the subsequent gunfire left the airport infrastructure in need of significant repairs.

The airport has since been repaired with the assistance of technical teams from Qatar and Turkey. These teams helped to rehabilitate the facility and make it operational once again. The repairs included fixing broken equipment and a damaged runway, as well as clearing the runway of civilians and debris. The Qatari and Turkish teams played a crucial role in getting the airport up and running again.

In addition to the technical support, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Taliban's new government, has also been actively involved in the repair and restoration process. They have claimed that they have repaired, equipped, and made operational all the airports in the country, including Kabul International Airport. The Taliban has also pledged their full cooperation with airlines and assured their safety.

The efforts of the Qatari and Turkish teams, along with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, have been successful. The Kabul airport is now fully operational and has resumed domestic and international flights. Several airlines, including Turkish Airlines and UAE-based Flydubai, have scheduled flights to and from Kabul. The resumption of flights is crucial for reviving Afghanistan's economy and facilitating the movement of people and goods.

While the airport is functional, there are still some challenges. Flight prices are reportedly higher than normal, and some airlines are hesitant to resume their services due to safety concerns and the lack of formal recognition of the Taliban government. However, the repairs and resumption of flights at the Kabul airport are a positive step towards restoring normalcy in Afghanistan and facilitating travel and economic activities.

UAE firm GAAC has signed a contract to provide ground handling services at Afghanistan's three airports

Afghanistan's aviation sector has faced numerous challenges, including severe damage to airports and the suspension of flights by many international airlines. In response, the Taliban administration has signed a contract with UAE-based GAAC Holding to modernise and upgrade the country's airports. GAAC has committed to investing in the infrastructure of three major airports: Kabul, Kandahar, and Herat.

GAAC's involvement is expected to encourage the return of major international airlines to Afghanistan. The company has already been providing ground handling services at Kabul airport since November 2020 and played a crucial role in rehabilitating the facility after it was trashed during the mass evacuation in August 2021. The new 18-month contract will cover ground handling services at the three airports, with GAAC officials declining to comment on whether the contract would be expanded into other services.

The full operation of these airports, particularly Kabul airport, is seen as crucial for reviving Afghanistan's economy. While some domestic and international flights are still operating, significant upgrades are needed for major foreign airlines to resume full service. The Taliban has been working to open up the country and gain international acceptance, with the contract helping to ease their isolation from the outside world. However, no country has yet formally recognised the Taliban government, and strict sanctions have crippled the economy.

GAAC's contract includes urgent investments in equipment, facility management, food for airport staff, ground support equipment, and technology. Specifically, this involves repairing runway lights, installing generators, providing x-ray machines and metal detectors, setting up a temporary terminal building, and supplying food and water for airport workers. GAAC has also trained and employed over 500 local staff to operate the airports.

The company has served 1.5 million passengers and handled over 40,000 tons of cargo since starting its operations in Afghanistan. It has also employed more than 1,000 local staff and trained them to international standards. GAAC's achievements demonstrate its commitment and capability to support the development and transformation of the country's aviation sector.

Afghan airlines currently fly to Dubai, Doha, Islamabad, and Tehran from Kabul airport

As of May 2022, two Afghan airlines, Kam Air and Ariana Afghan Airlines, fly to Dubai, Doha, Islamabad, and Tehran from Kabul airport.

Kabul airport, the largest airport in Afghanistan, is currently fully operational, with domestic flights having started and the facility ready for international flights to resume normal activity. The airport was damaged in August 2021 when thousands of people tried to evacuate as US-led forces withdrew. With the help of Qatari and Turkish technical teams, the airport has since been repaired and reopened for humanitarian aid and some domestic and international flights.

The full operation of Kabul airport is crucial for reviving Afghanistan's economy. However, no country has yet formally recognised the Taliban government, and international airlines have not resumed regular commercial services. Afghan airlines currently offer limited services, and flight prices are reportedly much higher than normal.

In addition to the two Afghan airlines, Iran's Mahan Air also operates flights to Kabul.

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