Rawalpindi - The operations at the New Islamabad International Airport have been rescheduled to start from 3rd May, 2018. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will also inaugurate the airport during a ceremony on the same date.

The new date of operationalisation of NIIAP was given after Advisor to Prime Minister on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Abbasi visited the airport and asked the authorities concerned including Civil Aviation Authority to re-test the state of the art systems and equipments. He also asked the authorities concerned to train the ground operational staff in a better way to bring it to the level of international standards.

“Advisor to PM on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Abbasi took this decision while chairing a meeting during which he directed the authorities concerned to carry out more tests and trials to improve reliability and efficiency of systems,” said the spokesman to Advisor Khwaja Jawad Ahmed.

Meanwhile, CAA has also issued a notification informing that the operationalization of NIIAP has been rescheduled for 3 May at 10am.

Earlier, Director Planning and Development CAA Nadir Shafi Dar and Deputy Director General Amir Mehmboob also briefed media at CAA building in NIIAP.

The director said the new airport has been built over 4300 acres of land.

He said that the new Y shaped airport spreads over 19 square km with 15 passenger boarding bridges including facilities to accommodate two double deck A380 largest airplanes.

He said there would be 15 remote bays and seven remote bays for small aircrafts such as ATRs.

He said the new airport has two runaways each 3.5km long. “The airport will have five level security systems for baggage check, a food court, mini cinema, children playing area and a car parking area with capacity of 2200 vehicles.

A separate car parking was also built for staff while a building for ASF staffers has also been completed in which some 1100 staffers are residing at present. The second building would soon be completed.