Afghanistan's Aviation Network: A Complex Web Of Airports

how many airports in afghanistan

Afghanistan has four international airports, with the largest being Kabul International Airport, which serves the capital and central region. The other three international airports are Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi International Airport, which serves northern Afghanistan; Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport in Kandahar, which serves the southern parts of the country; and Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport in Herat, which serves western Afghanistan. In addition to these international airports, there are about 16 regional domestic airports spread across the country, serving smaller, more remote areas. Some sources state that there are 26 airports in Afghanistan in total, while others state there are 50 airports/airfields.

Characteristics Values
Number of Airports in Total 26 or about 50
Number of International Airports 4
Number of Airports with Scheduled Flights 5
Biggest Airport Kabul International Airport
Second Biggest Airport Kandahar International Airport
Third Biggest Airport Mazar-i-Sharif Airport

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International airports in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has four international airports:

  • Kabul International Airport (also known as Khwaja Rawash Airport) serves the population of Kabul and the surrounding areas.
  • Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi International Airport (also known as Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Din Muhammad Balkhī International Airport) serves northern Afghanistan.
  • Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport in Kandahar serves southern Afghanistan.
  • Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport in Herat serves western Afghanistan.

There are also plans to build a fifth international airport in the Mohammad Agha District of Logar Province.

In addition to the international airports, there are about 16 regional domestic airports spread across the country, serving smaller and more remote areas.

The biggest airport in Afghanistan is Kabul International Airport, with flights to 18 destinations in 10 countries. However, another source states that the biggest airport is Hamid Karzai International Airport, where 11 airlines operate flights to and from 15 destinations. It is possible that Kabul International Airport and Hamid Karzai International Airport are the same airport, with the former being the official name of the airport and the latter being the name of the airport building or terminal.

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Domestic airports in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has 4 international airports and about 16 regional domestic airports spread across the country, serving smaller and more remote areas. The number of airports in Afghanistan varies across sources, with some listing 26 airports and others stating there are 50 airports/airfields.

The major domestic airports in Afghanistan include Bamyan Airport (Shahid Mazari Airport), Qala i Naw Airport (Qala Nau Airport), and Tarinkot (Tarin Kowt).

Bamyan Airport, located in Bamyan Province, has both asphalt and gravel runways. It serves as a domestic airport for the region, with flights connecting to other cities within Afghanistan.

Qala i Naw Airport, situated in the western part of Afghanistan, features a mix of concrete and asphalt runways. This airport caters to the local population and offers flights to other domestic destinations.

Tarinkot (Tarin Kowt) Airport is another vital domestic airport in Afghanistan. It has both concrete and gravel runways, catering to different aircraft.

Other notable domestic airports in Afghanistan include Chakcharan Airport, Darwaz Airport, Faizabad Airport, Gardez Airport, Ghazni Airport, and Jalalabad Airport. These airports serve their respective regions and connect them to the rest of the country through air travel.

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Regional domestic airports in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has about 16 regional domestic airports spread across various provinces, serving smaller and more remote areas. These airports include gravelled airside facilities and operate under visual flight rules.

Bamiyan Airport, also known as Shahid Mazari Airport, is one such example. It has multiple runways, including asphalt and gravel surfaces. Another airport is Qala i Naw Airport, also known as Qala Nau Airport, which also has both concrete and gravel runways. Tarinkot Airport, Camp Shorabak Airport, and Forward Operating Base Salerno are other examples of regional domestic airports in Afghanistan. Camp Shorabak Airport, for instance, has a large concrete and asphalt runway capable of accommodating various aircraft sizes.

In addition to these regional domestic airports, Afghanistan also has international airports, such as Kabul International Airport, and major domestic airports.

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Major airports in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has four international airports, with plans to build more in the future. These airports are:

  • Kabul International Airport (Khwaja Rawash Airport) — Serving the population of Kabul and surrounding areas, Kabul International Airport is the biggest airport in Afghanistan. It offers flights to 18 destinations across 10 countries.
  • Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport, Kandahar — Serving southern Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport has an asphalt runway measuring 3,200 by 55 metres.
  • Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi International Airport — Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi International Airport serves northern Afghanistan. Its runway measures 2,998 by 45 metres.
  • Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport, Herat — Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport serves the population of western Afghanistan.

In addition to these international airports, Afghanistan also has about 16 regional domestic airports spread across various provinces. These serve smaller, more remote areas. Some notable domestic airports include Bamyan Airport (Shahid Mazari Airport), Qala i Naw Airport, Tarinkot, and Camp Shorabak (Camp Bastion).

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Small local airports in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has a total of 26 airports, including international, domestic, regional, and small local airports. Out of these, there are four international airports, 16 regional domestic airports, and about 27 small airports.

The small local airports in Afghanistan include:

  • Ishkashim (Eshkashem) Airport: This airport has a variety of runway surfaces, including asphalt, grass, gravel, and dirt. It has six runways in different directions, with the longest being 1,300 x 19 meters.
  • An airport with no specified name has two runways: 756 x 18 meters gravel and 610 x 36 meters dirt.
  • Ajrestan Airport: This airport has been mentioned by travellers but requires more official confirmation.
  • Ghazni Airfield: This airport has been mentioned in traveller comments but lacks further details.
  • Rostaq Airport: Not much information is available about this airport.
  • Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport in Kandahar has a 3,200 x 55-meter asphalt runway.

Some of these small local airports may have unpaved runways and operate under visual flight rules.

Frequently asked questions

There are 26 airports in Afghanistan, including international, domestic, regional, military, and private airports.

There are four international airports in Afghanistan: Kabul International Airport, Kandahar International Airport, Herat International Airport, and Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi International Airport.

The biggest airport in Afghanistan is Kabul International Airport, which serves the capital and centre region. It offers flights to 18 destinations in 10 countries.

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