Due to its geographical location, the airport has been only catering to the regional traffic it receives from its local city, Turbat, as well as the surrounding towns and villages. The airport started out in the 1970s, when the CAA of Pakistan constructed a runway and an apron to handle small turboprop aircraft. A year later, Pakistan International Airlines launched flights to the airport using Fokker F-27 Friendship aircraft. Due to lack of flights, PIA carried out their own handling at the airport and obtained responsibility of handling the airport operations. PIAC offices were inaugurated and allowed the airline to carry out the tasks at the airport. In 1979, the airport underwent a radical make-over that resulted in a re-carpeted runway as well as apron. A lounge for domestic arrival and departures was constructed in 1980. In 1983, a briefing area was constructed to allow family members of passengers seeing off their relatives, as well as an air traffic control building. The main road to the airport was re-developed and constructed to meet international standards by 1984. The Pakistan State Oil decided to provide aviation fuel to flights handled at the airport and built their own facility in 1994. The CAA of Pakistan decided to re-develop the airport in 2000, which housed the CAA administration office as well as a new ATC building. In 2003, a new arrivals lounge was constructed as well as a CIP premium lounge. A DVLS room was constructed in 2005. Custom and immigration facilities were upgraded in the same year. In 2008 a new office building for airlines and airport operational staff were inaugurated. The local government and the CAA have reported to be upgrading the airport to meet international standards in 2009 with new lounges, control tower and more apron space to handle more flights. Until very recently Pakistan International Airlines was the only airline operating from the airport, however Sharjah-based carrier Orbit Aviation has obtained clearance from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority to start twice weekly flights between Sharjah and Turbat via Gwadar. The company has yet to begin flights, although facilities and permissions are already in place for it to do so. Airblue has also announced that it intends to start flying to Turbat in the future after it started regular flights to Gwadar. The national carrier also launched operations to the capital of Oman, Muscat in 2008.
Structure
Since the airport mainly caters to meet the need for local travellers and tourist passengers, it is regarded ideal to meet the number of flights and operations it has forecast for the future. However, with air travel on the rise, more is being invested at the airport to meet future needs. A new departure lounge was constructed and has been operational since 25 December 2012.
Runway
*6,000 ft runway with dimensions 1829 m by 30 m
Apron
*For passenger and cargo, 91 m by 69 m area.
*Combination of flexible and rigid pavements made of bitumen.
*Nose-in parking for 2 narrow-bodied aircraft such as ATR/F-27 at a time.
Lounge
*One domestic and international lounge each.
*Snack bar/tea shop available.
*Facility of restaurant of cooked meals available on nearby distance.
* Recently Terminal building extended as passengers flow extended.
Airlines and destinations
Events
PIA Flight 544 carrying 30 passengers on a Fokker F-27 originated at the airport bound for Gwadar. Mid-flight the aircraft was taken over by Balochmilitants. The aircraft landed at Hyderabad Airport where commandos overtook the aircraft.
