Emirates' Touchdown At Dubai International's Terminal 2: A Warm Welcome From Kabul, Afghanistan

Emirates Airlines previously operated a daily flight between Dubai and Kabul, Afghanistan. The airline's Boeing 777-300ER aircraft would depart Dubai at 10:50 AM and arrive in Kabul at 2:30 PM, while the return flight would leave Kabul at 4:20 PM and land in Dubai at 6:45 PM. However, following the Taliban's return to power in 2021, Emirates, along with several other international airlines, cancelled its service to Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. Emirates does not plan to resume flights to Kabul for the rest of 2022.

Emirates' Dubai-Kabul flight schedule

Emirates operates flights from Dubai to Kabul, with the nearest airport to Dubai being Dubai International Airport (DXB) and the nearest airport to Kabul being Kabul International Airport (KBL). Dubai International Airport is the primary airport in Dubai, offering a range of services such as free Wi-Fi, baggage service, charging stations, and more. The airport has multiple terminals, including Terminal 1, which serves over 50 international carriers, and Terminal 2, which caters to scheduled, charter, and special interest flights. Terminal 3 is used by Emirates, flydubai, Air Canada, United Airlines, and Qantas Airways Limited, for all their arrivals and departures.

The Dubai-Kabul route is popular for both business and leisure travellers, with Emirates being the most popular airline operating on this route. The average flight distance from Dubai to Kabul is approximately 1,653 km, and the flight time is around 3 hours and 25 minutes. The price of a Dubai-Kabul flight ticket can vary, with the lowest price being around $530 and the cheapest days to fly being Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

According to one source, the first Emirates flight of the day leaves at 01:40 PM from Dubai, and the last flight departs at 09:55 AM, with 4 flights operating on this route per week. However, it is always recommended to check the latest information on the Emirates website or with a trusted travel agent for the most up-to-date and accurate flight schedules and information.

Emirates' Kabul flights in 2021

Emirates airline suspended its flights to Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2021, following the Taliban's takeover of the city. On August 15, 2021, an Emirates flight to Kabul was diverted to Dubai due to the temporary closure of the runway at the airport. The airline then announced on its website that it had suspended flights to Kabul until further notice. Fellow Dubai state-owned carrier Flydubai also suspended its flights to the city.

Emirates had been operating a once-daily Dubai to Kabul service and had planned to resume flights in July 2022. However, as of March 2022, the airline had no plans to return to Kabul for the rest of that year. It is unclear if and when Emirates will resume flights to Kabul.

The suspension of Emirates' flights to Kabul left a significant gap in the market, as the airline transported approximately 246,000 passengers to and from the city in 2019. The Dubai-Kabul route is still served by other airlines, including Emirates' narrowbody partner, flydubai, as well as Ariana Afghan and KAM Air.

Emirates' decision to suspend flights to Kabul was likely influenced by safety concerns due to the Taliban's control of the city. The airline's spokesperson emphasised that they were "monitoring developments around the situation in Afghanistan" and working closely with authorities to ensure the safe operation of their services.

Kabul International Airport

The airport was originally named Khwaja Rawash Airport as it was built in the area of the same name. In 1960, the airport was renamed Kabul Airport after the Soviet Union built a terminal and a concrete runway. From 2014 to 2021, it was named Hamid Karzai International Airport in honour of former President Hamid Karzai. After the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the name was changed back to Kabul International Airport.

The airport sits at an altitude of approximately 1,791m above sea level and is surrounded by parts of the Hindu Kush mountains. It serves as a hub for Ariana Airlines and Kam Air, as well as international companies such as Air Arabia, Flydubai and Turkish Airlines.

The airport has two separate terminals: one for international passengers and the other for domestic flights. It also has a number of empty military bases, previously used by the United States Armed Forces and NATO. The Afghan Air Force also had a base at the airport, with the Afghan National Security Forces providing security inside the passenger terminals.

Prior to the withdrawal of US-led forces in 2021, the airport provided scheduled flights to and from China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and the Persian Gulf region. The most frequently serviced destination from the airport is Dubai in the UAE, with multiple airlines flying the route and some offering multiple daily flights.

On 26 August 2021, an ISIS suicide bombing at the airport killed at least 170 people. Following this incident, the airport was closed and much of its infrastructure was degraded or destroyed. With the help of Qatar, Turkey, and the Netherlands, the airport reopened on 4 September 2021 for domestic flights and aid deliveries.

Emirates does not currently operate flights to Kabul and has no plans to resume services before the end of 2022.

Airlines that serve Kabul International Airport

Kabul International Airport (KBL) is located in the northern part of Kabul, Afghanistan. It is one of the country's main international airports, capable of housing over a hundred military and civilian aircraft. The airport is currently operated by UAE-based GAAC Holding and Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.

Kabul International Airport has two terminals: one for international passengers and the other for domestic flights. It is served by several airlines, including:

• Ariana Afghan Airlines (the flag carrier of Afghanistan)
• Kam Air (the largest private Afghan airline)
• Air India
• Emirates
• Flydubai
• Pakistan International Airlines
• Turkish Airlines
• Air Arabia

Before the Taliban takeover in 2021, the airport used to handle over 1200 flights every month, with Emirates and Air Arabia operating daily flights to Kabul. However, following the political disruption, only a handful of flights are currently operating out of Kabul Airport. As of now, only Afghan-based carriers, Ariana Afghan Airlines and Kam Air, operate international services from the airport.

Turkish Airlines, the flag carrier of Turkey, is likely to resume operations at Kabul Airport soon. Other airlines that may restart operations in the coming months include Emirates, flydubai, and Air Arabia, especially now that the UAE-based GAAC Holding has won the contract to manage the airport.

History of Kabul International Airport

Kabul International Airport, also known as Khwaja Rawash Airport, is located 16km away from Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. It is one of the country's main international airports, capable of housing over a hundred military and civilian aircraft.

The airport was originally built in the early 1920s during the Kingdom of Amanullah Khan and was used to house aircraft for the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Post. It was later renamed Kabul Airport in 1960 after the Soviet Union built a terminal and a concrete runway. The airport was then modernised in the 1960s by Soviet engineers, and foreign tourists began visiting Afghanistan via Kabul Airport. This era ended after the 1978 Saur Revolution and the 1979 Soviet invasion.

The airport was used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet-Afghan War from 1979 to 1989, and by the military forces of the former President of Afghanistan, Mohammad Najibullah. Control of the airport switched between different sides during the civil war after 1992. By November 1996, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan governed by Mullah Muhammad Omar was in possession of the airport, until late 2001 when they fled the city after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Due to international sanctions during the Taliban government, the airport was closed in the late 1990s, with very limited international flights.

Following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks, Kabul Airport was bombed by United States and coalition forces. After the ISAF took over control, the airport began to be developed slowly over the years. A new radar system was installed in 2005, which was upgraded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in 2010.

In 2008, a new $35 million terminal for international flights was inaugurated, built with aid from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The new terminal was officially opened to international flights in June 2009, and the existing terminal was refurbished for domestic flights.

In October 2014, the National Assembly of Afghanistan proposed naming the airport after former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, in recognition of his services and contributions to the country's rebuilding. This decision was approved by the Cabinet of the new President Ashraf Ghani, and the airport was renamed Hamid Karzai International Airport.

In July 2021, the Taliban took over many areas in Afghanistan, including those near Kabul Airport. Turkey and U.S. and NATO forces provided security at the airport. However, Kabul eventually fell into the hands of the Taliban, prompting hundreds of people to flee to the airport in an attempt to leave the country. All commercial flights from Kabul Airport were cancelled indefinitely on 16 August 2021. The airport was then closed following the Taliban takeover, with much of its infrastructure degraded or destroyed.

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