First mock flight lands successfully at new Islamabad airport

The New Islamabad International Airport (NIIA) conducted its first mock flight successfully on Saturday.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight A320 was the first aircraft to land at the new airport. The plane took off from Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) at 12:30pm and land at NIIA at 1pm. PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Musharraf Rasool Cyan observed the mock exercise so as to access the operations of the NIIA.

Family members of PIA staff were the passengers of the mock flight and had passed through all the process that passengers have to go through in order to board a plane. After going through security, they had been given boarding cards.

Wheelchairs were also be arranged for sick and disabled  passengers who will be boarded on the plane by ambo-lifters.

The new airport is designed in a 'Y' shape and is located 30 kilometers from central Islamabad. The aiport will be the biggest international airport of the country in terms of landing and passenger handling facilities.

The airport, spreading over 19 square kilometers, has 15 passenger boarding bridges and as many as 15 remote bays and seven remote bays for small aircrafts.

The construction for this new airport began back in  April 2007. The old Benazir Bhutto International Airport will soon be transferred to NIIA in next few days April. The airport will formally be inaugurated on April 20.