KDH · large airport

Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport

Kandahar, Afghanistan

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KDHlarge airport

Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport

Kandahar, Afghanistan

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OAKN

ICAO

3337 ft

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TravelerPulse profile

Southern Afghanistan's principal gateway for Kandahar Province.

Location

Kandahar, Afghanistan

Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport, designated by IATA code KDH and ICAO code OAKN, serves Kandahar, the second-largest city in Afghanistan and the historic heart of the Pashtun cultural region. The airport is named after Ahmad Shah Durrani, the founder of the Durrani Empire and a revered figure in Afghan history. The airport gained significant international prominence during the post-2001 period when NATO and U.S.-led coalition forces used it as a major military and logistics hub, operating alongside civilian aviation. Kandahar Airfield, adjacent to the civilian airport, became one of the busiest military airfields in the world during the height of coalition operations. Following the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, civilian flight operations were severely disrupted. The airport has faced challenges in restoring regular scheduled international and domestic services, with only limited flights operating under the changed political environment.

Terminals

The airport has a single civilian passenger terminal serving both domestic and limited international routes.

Getting to & from

Ground transport to Kandahar city is primarily by road via private taxis and minibuses, as no formal public transit system serves the airport.

Airlines here

Ariana Afghan Airlines and Kam Air have historically operated routes through Kandahar, though service levels have been greatly reduced since 2021.

Notable facts

›The airport is named after Ahmad Shah Durrani, founder of the Afghan Durrani Empire in the 18th century.
›Kandahar Airfield, adjacent to the civilian airport, was one of the world's busiest military airfields during NATO operations in Afghanistan.
›The airport is located approximately 16 kilometers east of Kandahar city center.
›Coalition forces significantly expanded and upgraded airport infrastructure during the post-2001 military presence.
›Civilian operations were severely disrupted following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (4 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Airlines serving this airport

Iran Aseman Airlines

Ariana Afghan Airlines

Heavylift Cargo Airlines

Hankook Airline

Routes

KDH → MHDEP · 100

KDH → DELFG · 734

KDH → DXBFG · 734

KDH → KBLFG · 734

KDH → KBLHN · CR2

Aircraft operating here

Boeing 737-4003 routes Fokker 1001 routes Canadair Regional Jet 2001 routes

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Passport, Visa & Immigration

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Encyclopaedia

Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport, also referred to as Kandahar International Airport, and by some military officials as Kandahar Airfield (KAF), is located in the Daman District of Kandahar Province in Afghanistan, about 9 NM southeast from the city of Kandahar. It has served 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 Feda Muhammad Nezami. His predecessor was Maulvi Fathullah Mansour.

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