Korangi Creek Airport

Karachi, PK 🇵🇰 Closed Airport

ICAO

PK-0085

IATA

-

Elevation

3 ft

Region

PK-SD

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 24.7843° N, 67.139° E

Continent: AS

Type: Closed Airport

Keywords: OPKK OPKK

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

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Airport Information

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 26, 2025
Closure Date

The airport was never a public commercial airport in the modern sense. Its transition from a mixed-use (military and civil club) facility to a purely military installation occurred gradually after the independence of Pakistan in 1947, solidifying around the mid-1960s. It is considered 'closed' to all public and civilian traffic.

Reason for Closure

Military Conversion. The airfield was fully taken over by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) for its exclusive use as a primary training and operational base. Its strategic location and existing infrastructure made it ideal for military purposes, leading to the cessation of all civilian activities, including those of the local aero club which relocated.

Current Status

The site is a major, active military installation known as **PAF Base Korangi Creek**. It is not abandoned or derelict; rather, it is a vital training center for the Pakistan Air Force. The base currently houses the PAF Airmen Academy, which is responsible for the technical and educational training of PAF airmen, as well as the PAF School of Air Defence. The runway and facilities are maintained for military training aircraft.

Historical Significance

Korangi Creek is one of the oldest airfields in Pakistan. Its history includes:

- **British Colonial Era:** Established in 1923 as RAF Drigh Road, it was a key station for the British Royal Air Force in British India, serving as a vital stop on the imperial air route to Australia.
- **Flying Boat Base:** Its location on the creek made it suitable for seaplanes and flying boats, and it operated as a base for these aircraft.
- **Early Civilian Aviation:** In its early days, it was a hub for civil aviation and was used by the Karachi Aero Club for training and recreational flying before the club moved its operations to the main international airport.
- **Pakistan Air Force Hub:** After 1947, it became a foundational installation for the newly formed Pakistan Air Force. It has housed numerous prestigious PAF institutions over the decades, including the College of Aeronautical Engineering (CAE) from 1965 until it moved to Risalpur in 1986.

Reopening Prospects

Extremely unlikely to nil. The base is a critical and fully operational military asset for the Pakistan Air Force. Given its role as a primary training institution and its location within a sensitive cantonment area in a major city, there are no known plans, discussions, or prospects for it to be converted back to civilian use or reopened to the public.

Nearby Airports

Korangi Creek Heliport
PK-0007
Karachi, PK
Heliport
~0 km away
Faisal Air Base
OPSF
Karachi, PK
Medium Airport
~10 km away
Jinnah International Airport
KHI • OPKC
Karachi, PK
Large International Airport Scheduled Service
~14 km away
Chota Malir Airstrips
PK-0018
Karachi, PK
Closed Airport
~19 km away
PAF Base Malir
PK-0019
Karachi, PK
Closed Airport
~22 km away
Masroor Air Base
OPMR
Karachi, PK
Medium Airport
~24 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

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