Key Facts
- Location & Name: Formerly Karachi International Airport and Drigh Road Airport, it was renamed after Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah karachiaeroclub.com+8en.wikipedia.org+8graana.com+8.
- Codes: IATA: KHI, ICAO: OPKC en.wikipedia.org+3graana.com+3karachiairport.com.pk+3.
- Runways: Two concrete runways (07R/25L – 3,400 m; 07L/25R – 3,200 m), both ILS Cat I equipped karachiaeroclub.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2airport-technology.com+2.
- Traffic Volume: Pakistan’s busiest airport – handled ~6.46 million passengers in 2023–24 24newshd.tv+1tribune.com.pk+1.
🏢 Terminals & Facilities
- Main Terminal: Seven-level building (~115,000 m² floor space), opened 1992, with 86 check-in counters, 12 air bridges, and 12 gates airport-technology.com.
- Concourse Satellite Terminals:
- East: International flights.
- West: Domestic and select international services airport-technology.com.
- Amenities: Duty‑free shops, restaurants, ATMs, CIP & state lounges, free Wi‑Fi, mosques, charging kiosks, doctor-on-call, banking services karachiairport.com.pk+1airport-technology.com+1.
- Lounges:
- Bank Alfalah Premier
- CIP Lounge
- Marhaba
- PIA Business Plus graana.comen.wikipedia.org+4tribune.com.pk+4karachiairport.com.pk+4
🚗 Access & Transportation
- Taxis & Shuttles: 24/7 radio cab counters and shuttle services at arrivals karachiairport.com.pk.
- Bus Connectivity: Linked via Shahrah‑e‑Faisal; public buses available, though slower during peak hours karachiairport.com.pk+1geo.tv+1.
🛠️ Operations & Management
- Operator: Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA); airport manager as of Jan 2025: Erfan Khan en.wikipedia.org+1tribune.com.pk+1.
- Airline Hub: Main hub for PIA, airblue, Shaheen Air, Fly Jinnah, and other carriers karachiairport.com.pk+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
- Engineering & Maintenance: Includes wide- and narrow-body aircraft facilities, including Ispahani Hangar graana.com+6karachiairport.com.pk+6en.wikipedia.org+6.
📰 Recent Events & Issues
- Congestion: Jan 2025 saw multiple flight delays due to high traffic simultaneously 24newshd.tv+5tribune.com.pk+5reddit.com+5.
- System Glitch: April 2025 experienced immigration processing delays due to FIA system failure arynews.tv.
- Flight Suspensions: May 2025 saw flight operations halted until midnight amid regional tensions tribune.com.pk.
- Cancellations: Several flights (13–14) were canceled in March 2025 due to technical/operational issues .
🛡️ History & Security
- Opened: Passenger service started in 1929; main upgrades in 1992 airport-technology.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
- 2014 Attack: Targeted terrorist attack by TTP/IMU, resulting in 36 fatalities en.wikipedia.org.
- Calls for Tech Upgrade: Advocacies for advanced security tech following heightened screening and roadblock measures geo.tv.
TL;DR
Jinnah International is Karachi’s primary air gateway—bustling, well-equipped but prone to occasional delays and system hiccups. Ongoing modernization efforts aim to improve passenger experience and security.