Islamabad International Airport take-off delayed

A general view of the health and passport control area during a media tour of the newly built Islamabad International Airport, ahead of its official opening, Pakistan on April 18, 2018. (REUTERS)

• Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) postpones opening of Islamabad International Airport due to take place on Friday for nearly two weeks to carry out checks on all systems and facilities.

ISLAMABAD: The first domestic and international flights from Islamabad International Airport, which were scheduled to start today, have been postponed while the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) carries out tests to ensure a smooth start for the facility designed to cater for up to nine million passengers a year.
It announced that the new opening date will be on May 3.
Deputy Director General of the CAA Amir Mehboob told reporters on Wednesday, that it wanted to ensure all the tests and trials of the systems at the airport before formal inauguration.
He added that round-the-clock comprehensive tests were being carried out at the airport to ensure a smooth service.
Last week Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi visited the airport with senior CAA officials and viewed the facilities.
Abbasi has directed the authorities to ensure passenger services at the airport will be up to the standard expected of a modern international airport.
The airport will be the biggest in the country with its two 3.5 km runways. It has been estimated that the completion cost of the project is 85 billion Pakistani rupees ($735 million).