Kabul Flights

Airport report 2002/ 2003:

The airport building was basic. Though still a better than what i was preparing for, having just seen the view outside my window as we were coming in to land on my first trip to Kabul in 2002... Aircraft from years gone by, that were lying junked/ destroyed/ rotting just off the runway. The aircraft we were flying in, (Ariana Afghan airlines) itself wasnt one that would have taken off the ground with any other airline. An old boeing 727, something i hadnt seen at airports for almost a decade or more...

This time (sept 2003), things seemed to have improved further, a conveyor belt (though our luggage took a while showing up), organised queues at passport control... airconditioned waiting area at departure, etc.
Also, Ariana now flew Airbus300 aircraft, a step up from the last experience with the 727's... Three Airbus airplanes were gifted by the Indian govt earlier, adding to the goodwill that exists between the two countries...

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Ariana Afghan airlines, the national airline of Afghanistan, restarted operations in its post taleban years with some old boieng 727's which were not the safest pair of wings in the skies. The UN staff and many other Ngo's were advised not to fly Ariana. They`d rather operate their own aircraft or charter.
A year later, Indian airlines passed three of their older Airbus300 aircraft (yet a fair bit newer to the ageing 727's) to them. These were painted in Ariana colours put into service soon, one of the routes being the Delhi-Kabul one.
It was a move that earned the Indians a good measure of goodwill amongst the Afghans as well...

Ariana Afghan Airlines Main Office

P.O. Box 76,
Ansari Watt, Kabul,
Afghanistan.

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There are several flights in and out of Kabul now. From Ariana, to Indian airlines, Kam air, PIA and other operators to UN flights and military flights.
Delays are often expected and the departure lounge, though it seems pretty sizable when you first walk in, can fast turn pretty crowded in a blink. To the point that you may struggle to find a seat.
If you are entitled to a meal coupon, check at the check in counter, and head to the restaurant and not to the departure area- which takes you past the point of no return, or the immigration desk.
Non business class passengers may have to identify their baggage and their names will probably be called out by an airline official.
There are several security checks, including a last one just as you are boarding the aircraft, so be prepared to wait up...

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Some changes that i noticed... there are many more flights operating now for one, so its busier. We flew Indian Airlines, which flies Delhi-Kabul twice a week (tuesday and thursday?). Your vehicles will normally not be allowed to drive up to the building itself, and park at the parking lot instead, which is a short walk away. You can take a trolley to carry your luggage, but its of use only for a short distance once you enter. After the baggage X ray machine, you cant carry the trolleys. There are several locals to help and they will approach you. It may not be a bad idea if you have a lot of stuff and also, they will queue up for you to pay the departure tax ($10, or 500 afghanis). The distance between the counters is short, but the lines move slowly.
They dont allow handbaggage, but laptops and cameras are permitted. Its usually a matter of convincing the guys... If you`re flying business class, and your flight is delayed, as was the case with us, you will get a restaurant coupon from the airline. The airport restaurant is not in the direction of the departure lounge area, as we discovered much too late. Its somewhere on the ground floor. We were not allowed to go back down from the departure lounge, as we had already gone thru the immigration desk on our way here. There are some snacks to be had at a shop in the departure hall, and an internet cafe as well, but not much else.

Now many airlines have flights to Kabul. Azerbaijan Arilines fly from Baku, PIA from Islamabad, Asseman Airlines from Mashad, Iran and Ariana Airlines from Kabul to lots of different cities. Check their web pages for the latest schedules and prices.

http://www.flyariana.com/
http://www.iaa.ir
http://www.fly-pia.com/
http://azaviation.com/en/numb011.htm

On the outskirts of the city there are alot of sheep,camels, dogs, basically everything. Watch out for these animals and the sheperd's

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One of the most amusing sights around Kabul are the colourful german busses being used for public transport.
You will see them with names of assorted German towns - like Hamburg/ Frankfurt etc painted on them, sort of announcing departures to these locations, though they are actually transporting people around town, or between the Afghan provinces. These are obviously busses that have been retired recently from service in Germany and have found their way into Afghanistan- as aid probably. The paint from the orignal busses remains in place still...
Oh and i must add here, that if you ask an average Afghan about impressions of foreign governments, the Indians, the Germans and the Japanese are right on top.

It is very difficult to find safe and secure transportation within Afghanistan.

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Kabul Serena Hotel
Froshgah Street
Kabul
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