Air Transport
Air transport in Afghanistan is provided by the national carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines, and by several private companies such as Kam Air, Pamir Airways, and Safi Airways. Airlines from a number of nations also provide air services to fly in and out of the country, which includes Turkish Airlines, Gulf Air, Indian Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and others.
The nation has approximately 53 airports, about 19 of these have paved runways. Of those, 4 have runways over 3,000 meters, 3 have runways between about 2,500 and 3,000 meters, 8 have runways between 1500 and 2500 meters, and 2 has a runway under 1000 meters. About 34 have unpaved runways. Of those, 5 have runways between 2500 and 3000 meters, 14 have runways between 1500 and 2500 meters, 6 have runways between 1000 and 1500 meters, and 9 have runways under 1000 meters.
- Kabul International Airport (3500 m runway) is the nation's largest airport and the primary hub for international civilian flights.
- Kandahar International Airport (3200 m runway) is a dual-use airport serving southern Afghanistan.
- Mazari Sharif Airport (3100 m runway) is a dual-use airport serving the northern and central portions of the country.
- Herat International Airport (2600 m runway) is the primary civil airport for the western portion of the country.
- Ghazni International Airport (4 km long) is under construction as of April 2012 and will be operational in 2013.
- Jalalabad Airport (1800 m runway)
Bagram Air Base is used by NATO-led forces. It has heavy military traffic, especially helicopters. It can also handle larger airliners such as Boeing 747s, C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III military cargo planes. KBR and some other companies fly into and out of Bagram on a regular basis.
Read more about this topic: Transport In Afghanistan
Famous quotes containing the words air and/or transport:
“My companion and I, having a minute’s discussion on some point of ancient history, were amused by the attitude which the Indian, who could not tell what we were talking about, assumed. He constituted himself umpire, and, judging by our air and gesture, he very seriously remarked from time to time, “you beat,” or “he beat.””
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“One may disavow and disclaim vices that surprise us, and whereto our passions transport us; but those which by long habits are rooted in a strong and ... powerful will are not subject to contradiction. Repentance is but a denying of our will, and an opposition of our fantasies.”
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592)