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RAWALPINDI: The airfield of Benazir Bhutto International Airport remained closed to the commercial flights on Monday morning, allowing Pakistan Air Force fighter planes to rehearse for September 7 air show, the airport authorities said.
According to the authorities, the airfield will remain closed from 10:30am to 1pm in the morning and from 3:15pm to 4:45pm from August 31 to September 6.
The authorities said the schedule of closure of airspace had been sent to all the airlines operating flights from Benazir Bhutto International Airport to make travelers aware of it (schedule).
During closure of commercial flights operation, hundreds of air passengers remained stranded at Benazir Bhutto International Airport as well as on other airports abroad as the international and domestic flights for Islamabad were delayed on Monday.
Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2015
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Comments (42) Closed
Sep 01, 2015 09:15am
Seriously ! This is unheard of in other countries. Imagine New York or New Delhi stopping air traffic at a civilan airport to conduct an air show !!!
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Sep 01, 2015 09:54am
In competencies of air lines always make travelers suffer. If the new schedule was conveyed why airlines couldn't reschedule their flights and convey the travelers on time and why did they have to remain stranded...
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Sep 01, 2015 09:57am
We don't need to see such air shows, which make its tax payers suffer like this.
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Sep 01, 2015 10:13am
Pakistan Air Force fighter planes to rehearse for September 7 air show ??? what do you mean by September 7 ? its September 6
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Sep 01, 2015 10:16am
We certainly want to see the Air Shows in Pakistan. Its our pide, reflection of diginity, our defence, ou talent, readiness for any threat.Pakistan & Pakistan "Armed Forces Live Long."
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Sep 01, 2015 10:30am
You guys need to understand before criticizing that Rawalpindi airport belongs to Air force... the civilian governments are unable to complete a civilian one for islamabad/rawalpindi.
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Sep 01, 2015 10:32am
the airfield belongs to the air force in the first place
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Sep 01, 2015 10:40am
This can happen in Pakistan. Airport of the Capital city of Pakistan closes for a whole week just for a one day air show. This is totally absurd.
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Sep 01, 2015 10:41am
Yes, this is not fare. The civilians should have been informed by the State about this change in schedule a month before so that they could have adjusted their travel plans according.
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Sep 01, 2015 11:03am
These Airshows won't be generating money for cash strapped nation, the flights which are delayed have to pay Heavy fines overseas , do understand the show of power to nebours but these rehearsals should be conducted on Airforce fields not on civilians airport , how much revenue Pakistan would lose God knows.
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Sep 01, 2015 11:08am
Wow - After so many Years i ll see the Air Show, Just Wow!
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Sep 01, 2015 11:34am
7 September is the day when PAF ruled the Indo-Pak skies and destroyed the morale of its chief rival-The IAF.
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Sep 01, 2015 11:39am
Its lot of cost saving not running PIA
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Sep 01, 2015 11:44am
Is this the good governance and corruption-free country we want. Saddened
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Sep 01, 2015 12:08pm
@A Citizen. Man this an air show and where should they practice? In Ayub Park. I am flying that day from abroad and I have no problem. It is my country and my air force. This is the least I can do for my country.
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Sep 01, 2015 12:22pm
@Rameez that is the problem its not a civilian airport..just one runway borrowed frm the airforce...the iab airport shud have been completed in tarnol (motorway interchange isb) in 2009 but metro was more important I guess
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Sep 01, 2015 12:35pm
@A Boy September 7 is یوم فضائیہ that's why PAF is rehearsing.
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Sep 01, 2015 01:12pm
of all the major airports ISLAMABAD is the least busy and if any one were to look at the flight schedule they would realise the time allotted for air show practice run hardly any flights taxi during that time ... so why not ??? Bearing in mind the airport runway get used by air force all the time all ready
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Sep 01, 2015 01:20pm
What about the new Islamabad Airport? Is that project still alive?
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Sep 01, 2015 01:23pm
There is no problem for people who are flying in to Islamabad airport from abroad, the planes may get diverted to other airports, but for the people who have booked their outgoing flights from Islamabad is going to be a big hassle, specially international flights. Why don't they use other PAF airbases like Chaklala or Kamra.
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Sep 01, 2015 01:30pm
My family traveled back from Islamabad to London on Monday. There were informed in advance that the flight scheduled for 10.45 am is now due to depart at 10am. Only inconvenience was that now they had to leave home a little sooner.
I don't think any flights are cancelled. They have just been moved around to cater for these two hours windows. I don't think there is any need to overreact.
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Sep 01, 2015 02:30pm
And I guess its slight misreporting in the article as it would be the airspace that's closed, not necessarily the airport. PAF doesn't need commercial facilities for their operation. These are not adequate for PAF needs.
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Sep 01, 2015 02:42pm
I look forward to the airshow. Those commercial airlines are late most of the time anyway.
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Sep 01, 2015 02:43pm
@FB Thanks for the Info. Its very impressive to know that Islamabad airport have re-scheduled the flights and the flights are running on the said time.
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Sep 01, 2015 02:50pm
@FB - yes except for passengers sitting in the plane for an hour waiting to take off, missing business meetings & other commitments - it surely was not a big hassle!
This is where the taxpayers money is squandered in useless shows - how about investing time and resources in actually making a difference to the economy and quality of life of the common man!
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Sep 01, 2015 03:04pm
@Ayesha! Point noted. But at least this wasn't the airline at fault this time!
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Sep 01, 2015 03:12pm
@Rameez
I disagree. Airspace restrictions do happen in western countries. They try to avoid major airports - Islamabad is not a major airport.
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Sep 01, 2015 03:32pm
Happens every year at multiple airports. Or did u guys forget dubai air show at dubai international.
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Sep 01, 2015 03:42pm
We are a superpower and rich now and can afford this disruption especially to show the world our greatness.
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Sep 01, 2015 04:05pm
This can only happen in Pakistan that passengers who paid for the flights cannot travel because PAF wants to practice, where are their airports and why people have to suffer .
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Sep 01, 2015 04:10pm
This is so sickening. We are still living in an era where dynasties matter.
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Sep 01, 2015 04:15pm
@KaKa seriously tax payers, how much do you pay , are you one of 1% or 99%
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Sep 01, 2015 04:18pm
Only in Pakistan such things happen that people are inconvenienced because there is an air show. This VIP cultural pronouncements make the rules. Democracy has not taken roots.
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Sep 01, 2015 04:20pm
@A Boy, September 7 is Air Force day. The day Pakistan Air force shot down a number India planes. September 6th was when India invaded through international border.
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Sep 01, 2015 04:53pm
Nice one.
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Sep 01, 2015 05:01pm
these rehearsal is obviously sort of waste of money but it necessary strategically speaking, isb airport is right in the center so for safety reason they closed it else when new airport will be in service obviously they wont close it down.its better not to think always in a critic way.
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Sep 01, 2015 05:06pm
@asif you have got to be kidding me? There is something called planning and organizing. If that was done appropriately thousands of people would not suffer hardship. Any show of pride at the expense of the common man is not worth anything.
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Sep 01, 2015 05:08pm
People relax don't make comments if you don't know the whole story. Standard Operating procedure is to inform all airlines that for a period of time the airfield will be closed, guess why they do this i.e. for safety reason. Fast moving fighter jets don't mix well with slow moving passenger jets. Since both the military and civilians use the same airport they close the airfield. I am sure all airlines were informed well in advance via NOTAM which is Notice To Airmen. This happens all the time at airports when there is an air show. Enjoy the shaheens on the Day.
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Sep 02, 2015 12:31am
so the taxpayer gets screwed twice first for toyboys then no revenue
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Sep 02, 2015 09:20am
Still living in Dark ages. Why to suspend commercial operation and loose revenue.
Its the history of PAF to show there importance the suspend the civil Air Traffic. PAF wants to show the power.
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Sep 02, 2015 09:23am
PAF still living in stone age.Want to show there Power. No reason to suspend civil operation. Its revenue.
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Sep 03, 2015 12:01am
I can see the paid lobby here.. anyways, PAF go ahead shaheens! i just love to see the thunder you make in the air....
eagerly waiting for your parade!
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