Kandahar International Airport
Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport, also referred to as Kandahar International Airport (Pashto: د کندهار نړيوال هوايي ډګر), and by some military officials as Kandahar Airfield, KAF) (IATA: KDH, ICAO: OAKN), is located in the Daman District of Kandahar Province in Afghanistan, about 9 NM (17 km; 10 mi) southeast from the city of Kandahar. It serves as the nation's second main international airport and as one of the largest main operating bases, capable of housing up to 250 aircraft of different sizes. The current head of the airport is Maulvi Fathullah Mansour.
Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport Pashto: د کندهار نړيوال هوايي ډګر | |||||||||||
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Photos captured during NATO's occupation | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Afghanistan | ||||||||||
| Operator | GAAC Holding | ||||||||||
| Serves | Southern Afghanistan | ||||||||||
| Location | Daman District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan | ||||||||||
| Built | 1962 | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 3,338 ft / 1,017 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 31°30′21″N 065°50′52″E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
OAKN Location in Afghanistan | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Helipads | |||||||||||
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Sources: Landings.com, AIP Afghanistan | |||||||||||
The airport was built by Americans in the early 1960s. It was occupied by the Soviets during the 1980s Soviet–Afghan War, as well as serving as the Afghan Army’s 665th Commando Brigade headquarters. Following their withdrawal the airport remained in control of Mohammad Najibullah's government until he stepped down in 1992. Thereafter, local military commanders took control of the airport until the American invasion in late 2001. It was also the site of Airstan incident in 1995, as well as the Indian Airlines Flight 814 incident in 1999.
Since 2007, the airport has been repaired and expanded. Its runway can support all types of aircraft, including a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III or an Antonov An-225 Mriya. The airport can be used for both military and civilian flights. The military section of the airport is maintained by the Afghan Armed Forces. The Afghan National Police provides security inside and outside the civilian terminal of the airport.
Other nearby airports to Kandahar are Tarinkot Airport in neighboring Uruzgan Province to the north, Qalat Airport in Zabul Province to the northeast, and Bost Airport in Lashkar Gah to the west.