Islamabad airport now ‘9th-worst in the world’

E-Paper | February 23, 2026

ISLAMABAD: After being globally vilified as the worst airport in the world last year, the Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) has managed to claw its way back to respectability, dropping down to number nine on a 2015 list of the worst airports in the world.

Compiled by the website ‘Guide to Sleeping at Airports’, the list is put together on the basis of an annual of travellers who are asked to rate their airport experiences based on the services and facilities available within the terminal, cleanliness, customer service, comfort and their overall airport experience.

This year, the dubious title of worst airport went to Nigeria’s Port Harcourt International Airport, which was also described as the “most corrupt airport in the world”. Jeddah’s crowded King Abdulaziz airport came in third place, while the airports of Kathmandu, Tashkent and Kabul were ranked fourth, fifth and seventh worst, respectively.

The BBIA’s ranking no doubt benefitted from the recent facelift it received, including improvements to the terminal building, concourse hall, construction of a fast track building and a redesign of the airport’s infamous car park, as well as the business-class lounge.

However, corruption among airport staff and security personnel remained the most common complaint for reviewers on the Guide to Sleeping at Airports.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2015

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Omaer Zoberi

Oct 21, 2015 09:30am

What a Joke! The airport rating has not gone up because the BBIA airport has improved, it has gone up because other have become worse than we were!

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Dr.Arshad

Oct 21, 2015 09:32am

Shifting to the under construction Gandhara International airport in 2016 will improve the situation.I think CAA and other agencies are not keen to give their best here because of aforementioned fact. Gandhara airport will be the best airport in this part of the world.

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Baba Ji

Oct 21, 2015 09:35am

Corruption in India and Pakistan is eating the nations like a termite. If we adopt a two party system like USA, may be we can make more progress. Politics is the cancer that the societies are facing.

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Oct 21, 2015 09:35am

http://www.sleepinginairports.net/2015/best-airports-asia.htm Build airports look at best list and three Indian airports as best

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Khwarezmi

Oct 21, 2015 09:46am

Islamabad Airport is oit of date and out of touch with national and international passangers. I remember loadshedding, heat, crappy stores and food, and small checkin halls.

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Gaurav Arya

Oct 21, 2015 09:56am

Best airport is no doubt Changi (Singapore).

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Rizwan

Oct 21, 2015 09:56am

2015 List of Best Airports in Asia. Interestingly, no airports from China could make it to the list. Both Hong Kong & Taipei are technically not in China. 1. Singapore Changi International Airport, Singapore (SIN) 2. Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea (ICN) 3. Tokyo Haneda International Airport, Japan (HND) 4. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan (TPE) 5. Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong (HKG) 6. Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia (KUL) 7. Osaka Kansai International Airport, Japan (KIX) 8. New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, India (DEL) 9. Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, India (HYD) 10. Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, India (BOM)

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Arif

Oct 21, 2015 10:06am

What do you expect from anything that is directly or indirectly associated with PPP?

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Zubair

Oct 21, 2015 10:07am

When New Islamabad Airport is going to open ? It is in high demand.

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GiantAsian

Oct 21, 2015 10:13am

Best Domestic Airports 1 Tokyo Haneda 2 Shanghai Hongqiao 3 Durban 4 Cincinnati 5 Denver 6 Seatlle-Tacoma 7 Halifax Stanfield 8 Chengdu Airport 9 Haikou Meilan 10 Bengaluru Most Improved Airports 1 Paris CDG 2 Doha Hamad 3 Mumbai 4 Baku 5 London Heathrow 6 Bogota 7 Ho Chi Minh 8 Chengdu 9 Yekateringburg 10 Amman

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jawad tihar

Oct 21, 2015 10:23am

Islamabad airport should be number 1 worst airport in the world. It does not represent the beauty of Islamabad mountains and valleys . maybe because of the new air port being constructed in Fateh Jung.

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NoFame

Oct 21, 2015 10:32am

Each time horrified whenever came to the islamabad airport and thought ill never come back to Pakistan after passing out the immigration counter. But here we are this is our country, our roots are stuck here, we cant run away, no matter what happens we have to get back here with soft wish in our heart "one day we will get rid of this sickness". Long live Pakistan :)

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iffi

Oct 21, 2015 10:33am

Its not only the airports, its everywhere, look at PIA, NANDIPUR, PAKISTAN STEELS, WAPDA, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, POLICE, & MOST INSTITUTIONS, i hope the experienced team gets some time to look at the issues for which they promised & got elected....

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Confused

Oct 21, 2015 10:37am

@Omaer Zoberi I second this statement. But still, it is the cause of sudden celebration for me.

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Justice

Oct 21, 2015 10:37am

@Dr.Arshad InshaAllah

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haider

Oct 21, 2015 10:44am

PM should take hard notice and make a committee The committee must go for a world tour, complete with an entourage consisting of personal cooks, masseurs etc. They should study airport management at all European airports, while never missing qeemay alay naan and nihari The committee should then come back and make some recommendations

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Oct 21, 2015 10:48am

I am a Pakistani and i am sad to say that this article is right on the money, the personnel / administration are corrupt and without any accountability. Its chaotic at the best of times. During my last visit, i arrived 4 hours before the departure time and could only get to the aircraft 10 mins before the take off. an absolute nightmare !!!

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TooTrue

Oct 21, 2015 10:57am

This is by far the worst airport in the world. Just to get through to the check in area you have to push your way through a throng of people. Completely disorganized.

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C.K.

Oct 21, 2015 11:04am

It was a pleasant surprise to see 3 airports from India in the top 10 list !!

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N.Sid

Oct 21, 2015 11:26am

The current Islamabad airport is an airforce base turned into an airport, at chaklala...not a proper airport. The new Islamabad airport is under construction at Fateh Jung and will be one of the best in the region.

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M. Malik

Oct 21, 2015 11:33am

Lol! 9th?... by the time the new ISB Airport is completed, I am willing to bet, it too will fall within the top-10 worst in the World! What a disgrace, that the airport in the country's capital - a known nuclear power, with the 6th largest army in the world --

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B.Ally

Oct 21, 2015 11:33am

An other dubious honour.

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Ali

Oct 21, 2015 11:38am

What about Khartoum international Airport of Sudan...

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Umair Khalid

Oct 21, 2015 11:39am

I used to live in a very remote small town in Denmark. Even that airport was better than Islamabad airport and Islamabad is the capital city if Pakistan: what a big joke?

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Ali

Oct 21, 2015 11:39am

Khartoum int'l Airport in Sudan is I think Worst in World

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Bhavani

Oct 21, 2015 11:43am

@Baba Ji All international and domestic airports have improved tremendously in last 10 years after after Asiad, in particularly. Staff are better trained and more courteous. Corruption is down since custom rules have become quite liberal. Nearly all state capital airports have also been up graded and modernised.

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Khan

Oct 21, 2015 11:45am

I don't think any airport in the world could be worst than the one of Kabul. Traveling through Kabul airport can make you sick :(

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Dr.Arshad

Oct 21, 2015 11:46am

@Ali........Yes,agreed. The plane comes perilously close the rooftop of Afra Mall before touching the runway. Services are even worst.

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Indian Muslim

Oct 21, 2015 11:50am

@Rizwan, good info bro.

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anil sahu

Oct 21, 2015 11:57am

@N.Sid checkout mumbai airports new terminal

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Rajan Talwar

Oct 21, 2015 12:00pm

@Rizwan - Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, India (BOM) is not that good.

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Rajan Talwar

Oct 21, 2015 12:05pm

@Bhavani - recently Chandigarh is added in the list of international airports. People says one of the best in India.

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Hameed Ajmal Sheikh

Oct 21, 2015 12:11pm

It is great shame that our Airport is still without most of facilities mostly present in the excepted standards of world.At Islamabad Airport even the Taxis Driver start snatching the luggage of Passenger without even asking where they have to go and police keep looking at them helplessly.The Police is most corrupt in the world letting things happen at the expense of poor passengers.The govt should put a strict control over what happens at the Airport once the international Flight arrives.

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Ahmed

Oct 21, 2015 12:20pm

@Baba Ji: America has a two party system? Really? You might want to check that again

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Oct 21, 2015 12:32pm

A lot of people have high expectation from the new airport. Well sorry to inform you that nothing will change unless their is a change for the betterment in the organizations (CAA, PIA, FIA, ASF etc.) that are present at the airport.

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HRK

Oct 21, 2015 12:35pm

And in terms of bribes taken, it should be still at number 1.

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Skeptic

Oct 21, 2015 12:40pm

I bet even the new ISB Airport, when it opens, will be fraught with problems, after numerous delays, cost over-runs, and using technology which will already be out of date.... if it ever become operational!

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Shahzad Ikhlaq

Oct 21, 2015 12:43pm

Can anyone tell me where does Dubai Airport (DXB) stand in the list?? For me it should be in top 3, I’ve travelled thru DXB extensively and found the whole experience quite amazing, airport is beautiful and their services are world class.

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rem

Oct 21, 2015 12:57pm

@Baba Ji Its pakistans airport not indias. Babaji

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rem

Oct 21, 2015 01:02pm

Bangalore airport is too good. I feel its far better than frankfurt and lisbon airports.

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sindhi shaidaee

Oct 21, 2015 01:03pm

Even most of the third countries railway stations are more equipped than our airports

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A CITIZEN

Oct 21, 2015 01:07pm

@HS I totally agree with you. Its a surprise for me that BBIA still got the 9th spot in the ranking, I thought it was the worst Airport in the world. Even Colombo Airport is a world standard airport. The best one I have been to are DBX, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. After landing at Islamabad airport I was thinking which era are we Pakistani living in. I hope the new airport and most importantly the services available are of good standard.

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Proud Indian

Oct 21, 2015 01:16pm

@Rajan Talwar Have traveled and seen new airport? The newly constructed airport is one of the best in world... please visit New Sahar International Airport and check.

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N.Sid

Oct 21, 2015 01:29pm

@anil sahu Have seen the pictures, it is definitely great and well designed, the IGI Delhi is even better. The Karachi Jinnah terminal was inaugurated in 1992, so it is about 23 year old now, The Lahore airport is also about 16 old and the design is pretty bad. Airports should not look like an old Lahore fort which the current airport looks like. They need to be modern, high ceiling, steel and glass, aluminum composite, with atrium and lobby, modern interiors and a few traditional elements here and there.

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Nisar

Oct 21, 2015 01:36pm

Wait until the new Islamabad airport is opened, it will be one of the finest in Asia, I know someone working on the project and i have to say, from what i have heard and seen via mobile pics, its very impressive.

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Sleepless in Sahiwal

Oct 21, 2015 01:37pm

@Omaer Zoberi I doubt you have ever been anywhere other then daewoo. Whilst Islamabad airport is certainly not up to the standards, a country of Pakistan's size should have its most certainly is not the worst. There are places in East and West Africa which are many times more underdeveloped and so is their infrastructure. Unfortunately we have a whole generation of cynics who grew up during 2000s in the midst of terrorism who also treat anything associated with Pakistan with utmost negativity

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Nasir

Oct 21, 2015 01:39pm

Every body in Pakistan is waiting for new airport but as the staff will be same then don't expect any good.

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Irfan UK

Oct 21, 2015 01:44pm

I know sometimes we all get annoyed at the airports but let me assure you that there is no way I would put Islamabad at no. 9 . I have traveled to many places like Hongkong, China, Turkey, Dubai, Ajman, Abudabhi, Morocco and all the airports in UK and let me assure you of one thing and that is Islamabad may have it's problems but it's not as bad as they claim it to be especially after the refurb.

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Oct 21, 2015 01:45pm

@Rizwan http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/19/aviation/worlds-worst-airports-2015/index.html............stop deceiving people...........there is no indian airport in top 10............................take some pain and go the article, it contains list of best airports as well..........

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Avijit Roy

Oct 21, 2015 01:55pm

I wonder where Copen Hagen Airport stands. I found it one of the most horrible.

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Timeto stopthis

Oct 21, 2015 01:58pm

@Irfan UK Its called living in denial. Just because you keep denying it, doesnt mean its not the worst.

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Kashif

Oct 21, 2015 02:06pm

I agree with the rating completely, as I recently traveled through the airport and can say that my recent experience wasn't that bad as I was prepared for...The Parking has improved, Departure Entrance, relocating scanning machines before Custom Check helped alot. & best of all Custom/Narcotics did not stop me for the first time (I remember they loved to open the bag & leave it as it is for the passenger to repack the bags and had those long sharp pins to punch the brand new bags for Drugs eventually destroying the bag). But asking photocopy of the Passport+Visa & getting that checked before check in still the pain, No proper lines for Check In Counters, some were quick & some were slow....Immigration, Toilets etc has improved no doubt..but still lots of improvement can be done...

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Kashif

Oct 21, 2015 02:09pm

Forgot to mention the poor handling of bags though...when they destroyed my perfectly shaped bag, the back of the bag was completely ripped off...amazing how they do it ?? My thoughts they dropped it from 100 ft or tried to pull it off with the help of horses on each side...only that way it make sense :)

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Adnan

Oct 21, 2015 02:11pm

We are a very poor country with limited resources. Our money needs to be spent on more important things than luxury things like airports which used by the rich and upper middle class. Stop complaining everyone.

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vijay salem

Oct 21, 2015 02:11pm

@Baba Ji what India has to do with this?

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Maxx

Oct 21, 2015 02:14pm

Ironically, Islamabad city is one of the best planned city in this part of the world, master planned by Doxiades, the Greek town planners. It is one of the cleanest and greenest city in south Asia...with a worst airport tag. People got pleasantly surprised when they came out of the airport. Hope the new airport will be modern and efficient...CAA listening?.

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Maxx

Oct 21, 2015 02:19pm

@Irfan UK Yes after the refurbishment the airport looks fine, but what about he CAA staff competence and etiquette, in a service industry like hospitality, the prompt, friendly service with a smile gets more points. Hope this time they(CAA) hire someone from hotel industry to train their staff.

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Philosopher (from Japan)

Oct 21, 2015 02:40pm

9th? Oh thanks GOD I thought first because I have used BBIA once and feel that worst nine is a good position if we compare the facilities n attitude of staff.

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Shakeel

Oct 21, 2015 02:49pm

I recently travelled via Islamabad airport and it is much improved, particularly the CAA staff and the service they provide. The carpark has been re-vamped and there are now more restaurants on site. There are clean public toilets and the waiting areas both inside and outside the airport have been fixed up to a nice clean standard. Unfortunately corruption by customs officials and ATF is still rife, they openly beg for bribes, the desperation in their voices is pitiful and hilarious in equal measures. On the other hand the CAA staff are excellent and professional. Improvements can still be made. Customs and ATF need to be cleaned up, and there is no reason to scan everyones bags twice, just do it once (though the caution is appreciated). The CAA staff do better equipment (i queued for 30 minutes waiting for a broken printer to be fixed so boarding passes could be created). All in all it was a much improved service, but there is room for improvement.

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haris

Oct 21, 2015 02:58pm

@Dr.Arshad: "Gandhara airport will be the best airport in this part of the world." Modern day, meaning of "The best in the World" shows how cost-effective and profitable the construction is? Gandhara Airport, Islamabad, can not even generate it's own electricity. There are not even Water and Garbage recycling plants there. In todays World a library is constructed in such a way that it could sustain on its own resources rather than burdening the entire nation.

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ahmedj

Oct 21, 2015 02:59pm

Remove VIP lounges of our airports and then see the sudden overall improvement.

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Parikshith

Oct 21, 2015 03:08pm

@SS He's talking about the 10 best airports in Asia, the link you sent is 10 best in the world.

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Muhammed Ali

Oct 21, 2015 03:25pm

Its a dump....always was always will be. Sad to say...no investment no pride just a I DONT CARE ATTITUDE.

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Harisingh

Oct 21, 2015 04:34pm

@C.K., I see 3 Indian ariports ranked 18th (Delhi), 19th (Hyderabad), and 21st (Bombay) in the top 30 list worldwide: http://www.sleepinginairports.net/2015/best-airports-world.htm

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Khalid

Oct 21, 2015 04:47pm

This is not a surprise at all. Airports in Pakistan are all probably in the list of worst airports and if they are not, they should be.

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Farooq Javed

Oct 21, 2015 04:54pm

We are like an ugly woman who thinks that by putting on make-up she will be pretty. The ugliness is everywhere in Pakistan. Corruption, incompetance and lazyness is for all to see. Until we change as a people our airports will not improve.

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Khalid

Oct 21, 2015 09:12pm

"Never again!"

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Oct 22, 2015 01:23am

@Avijit Roy i am surprised to hear this ..CPH airport is among the best airports in the world. World class services and pleasant architecture. what exactly did u experience?

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Oct 22, 2015 01:35am

@Baba Ji Baba Ji, wake up we already have two party system. Didn't we?

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Zee

Oct 22, 2015 01:58am

@N.Sid you are saying as if Islamabad had its own airport all along and this is a temporary arrangement. Pindi's airport has been serving the area for too long without any investment in it and has now become inadequate for the number of passengers using it.

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Amer RAO

Oct 22, 2015 07:36am

What you can except from our governments?

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Naeem

Oct 22, 2015 08:13am

Though new airport is under construction that might be beautiful and huge enough, but It could not remove curruption and staff behavior, which are main factors of ranking.

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Nav

Oct 22, 2015 10:39am

In the Best airports list India has 7 airports in top 20 and 3 airports in top 10. Hopefully, Pakistan will also, one day list it's airports in the best airport in the world.

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Pakistani

Oct 22, 2015 04:06pm

I came to Islamabad last year from overseas. It was a horrible experience. From the moment we entered the airport there were huge lines and people were trying to break the queues and people shouting at them. Then to get our baggage was another battle, people hogging space, might is right going on. Toilets so dirty and stinking that you my son vomited when he went inside one. Staff sitting on the few chairs there probably for passengers. Customs check was another ordeal when they found out that we have come from a Western country. Worst experience ever.

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JustWasif

Oct 23, 2015 12:32am

No justice no pprosperity

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hassan

Oct 23, 2015 12:40am

The criteria being used for this evaluation seems questionable. Though islamabad airport is pretty bad but it was never the worst airport in the world, by any standard. Six months in a year, i travel for work amd ive seen many airports across the globe which are far worse than isb or even port harcourt - in terms of facilities, structure, ease, cleanliness, corruption, chaos, etc but are never mentioned in any of the "worst airport lists".

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Syed Ganga Din

Oct 23, 2015 01:03am

What was it before? I haven't seen any improvement any where.

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LOCKHORN

Oct 23, 2015 01:07am

@Pakistani Don't lose heart. The airports in India were one of the worst about 10 years back and I can relate to your experiences. The shiny new airports were built recently as air traffic increased, so there is hope for Pakistan to build modern, energy efficient airports.

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Qasim

Oct 23, 2015 01:15am

Close down VIP lounges across country's airports, and you'll see a change immediately!

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Sak

Oct 23, 2015 03:18am

The most worst isNigeria, thirdis King Abdul Aziz! What is second?

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ariz

Oct 23, 2015 05:11am

I recently traveled through Ibd airport and man it was a nightmare. I had my wife and kid with me. We were sent back 3 times after reaching the luggage check in counter, each time with different things to do. It was like a zoo. Every passenger traveling was extremely upset. The managers on duty were so rude, incompetent and indolent.

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Oct 23, 2015 05:56am

Improvement has indeed happened at BBIA hence the improvement in ranking is correct. Musharraf started the new Islamabad airport and like everything else that Musharraf started the airport project is in a mess. Other gifts that Musharraf give to this country are Nandipur, railway engines, load shedding and above all TTP. Thank you Musharraf for taking the county back by a few decades.

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white noise

Oct 23, 2015 07:04am

@Dr.Arshad I beg to differ, buildings don't create ratings, its the people and the way our people show courtesy, well, good luck with your happy thoughts Sir.

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bkt

Oct 23, 2015 12:14pm

@Rizwan : Hong Kong is very much in China and has Chinese immigration officials issuing Chinese visas. By contrast Taipei is in Taiwan, which is an independent state that China claims. Until 1997 Hong Kong used to be a British colony but now -- 18 years later -- it is a part of China.

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bkt

Oct 23, 2015 12:18pm

The best way to get to Islamabad is by Daewoo. Fly into Lahore and take the bus to Islamabad. My most vivid memory of Islamabad airport still remains all the smokers sitting around the no smoking sign.

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Desi

Oct 23, 2015 04:47pm

@Skeptic. Exactly right. New building maybe better but staff will still be the same from current airport. Change people's habit ( not easy to do) and things will improve. Hire totally new staff but same habits will show again. Unfortunately it's our culture of corruption, nepotism, favoritism and laziness that is bring us such laurels worldwide.

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