Karachi Airport

The Quaid-e-Azam International Terminal is a beautifully designed airport. It is well designed from the inner side of building. A stranger can also pass its time by enjoying its surrounds. Everything is efficient. It is a well restricted airport from any illegal persons. The staff is friendly and cooperative.

Karachi airport is a very nice with a modern architecture and it is easy to use. Although my first experience of arriving there was quite shocking. The staff at the airport is friendly and has good English skills but there are so many armed guards. The first thing I saw after leaving the aircraft and entering the terminal building via the passenger bridge was three guards with machine guns more or less ready to shoot you at any time. I appreciate the security but for me being quite young at that time thought it was scary. It is not the kind of persons you stop and have a chat with. Otherwise I have a very positive image of the airport. Many security checks but everything works very efficiently including check-in boarding and baggage handling. There was also a duty-free shop in the transit hall with "international prices".

KHI was built about 6-7 years ago and is still a clean well run and manageable airport. Arriving passengers are quickly processed through immigration and there is a separate line for foreigners which is quite short. Baggage arrives quickly and trolleys actually work. All bags are x-rayed and then passengers can leave the airport. Since no one but employees and ticketed passengers are allowed inside the terminal the breezeway outside is where the Asian experience truly begins. Touts taxi drivers and a myriad of people with no discernible purpose mill about. Hopefully you have a hotel meet-and-greet and you can leave quite easily. For departing passengers once you enter the terminal things are quite civilized as only passengers are allowed inside. All bags are x-rayed and there are several additional security screenings. Check-in is usually quick although outbound immigration queues can be longish. There are shops selling duty free but I would suspect that prices are fairly inflated. CIP lounges are sub-standard with limited food and beverage selections. Without fail staff are polite and helpful. Even security personnel though armed to the teeth are professional and courteous. Bathrooms are spotless and each has a fulltime attendee present. There are even free Internet kiosks around the departure terminal. The airport design is nice with Islamic touches and copious amounts of marble.

Karachi airport has the the things that actually matter in an airport you can check in 25mins before your flight and your bags will definItely be on the flight. Plus on most airlines they wrap your bags for free (in the US it is around $3). The main reason Karachi airport is so good is that it is small and doesn't have too much traffic so everything runs smoothly. The only things is the immigration lines are very long and generally take about 30-45mins because of a lack of them. (Normally 1 desk is open).

New Quaid-e-Azam Terminal is spacious and beautifully designed. Plenty of shops and a couple of restaurants and you are able to board your flight by covered walkway. I remember the old airport which resembled a motley collection of old huts and you had to go by bus from the building to the aircraft.