KHI Airport: What the Code Means for Karachi

KHI is the IATA code for Jinnah International Airport, the international airport serving Karachi, Pakistan's commercial capital and main port city. So if you are wondering which city KHI stands for, the answer is Karachi. The code appears on tickets, boarding passes and baggage tags, while pilots and air traffic control use the four-letter ICAO code OPKC.

The airport is named after Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. You will see its name written in several ways, and they all mean the same place:

• Jinnah International Airport, the official name, often shortened to Jinnah Intl or simply Jinnah Airport.
• Karachi International Airport or Karachi Airport, the everyday names.
• Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, a name some booking sites still use. Quaid-e-Azam, meaning "Great Leader", is the title Pakistanis give to Jinnah.

Whether you search "KHI airport", "airport KHI" or "KHI international airport", you are looking at the same gateway. Karachi's airfield has a long history in aviation, and the present Jinnah Terminal opened in 1992.

Where Is Jinnah International Airport in Karachi?

Jinnah International Airport lies on the eastern side of Karachi, about 14 km from the city centre. The airport's access road joins Shahrah-e-Faisal, the main boulevard that runs from the airport area towards central Karachi. Most journeys into town follow this road.

Traffic, rather than distance, decides how long the trip takes. A drive to Saddar, the busy central district, usually takes around 30 to 50 minutes. Morning and evening rush hours can add a good deal more, so give yourself a buffer if you are heading to the airport for a flight.

Jinnah International Airport Terminal and Concourses

Passenger flights at KHI use one main building, the Jinnah Terminal. It is a large, multi-level terminal that handles both domestic and international passengers.

The terminal connects by corridors to two satellite concourses, each with eight passenger boarding bridges:

• Jinnah East Satellite handles international flights.
• Jinnah West Satellite handles domestic flights, and can take some international services through flexible gates.

Check-in, immigration and security all happen in the main building before you walk through to your concourse. The flight information screens show which satellite and gate your flight is using.

Facilities at Jinnah International Airport

The terminal covers the basics most travellers need before or after a flight.

Money and connectivity

• Banks and ATMs: ATMs, bank counters and currency exchange are available in the terminal. Foreign cards do not always work in every machine, so it helps to carry a backup card or some cash.
• Wi-Fi: free Wi-Fi is offered in the departure lounges, which is handy for last messages before boarding.

Lounges, food and shopping

CIP and premium lounges serve eligible business-class passengers and certain card holders. Across the concourses you will find restaurants, cafés and snack counters, plus gift shops and duty-free shopping for international departures.

Prayer rooms and other services

• Prayer areas: prayer rooms are found in the terminal, and there is also a mosque outside the building near the car parks.
• Left luggage: a luggage storage service is available if you want to drop bags during a long wait.
• Accessibility: wheelchairs and assistance are offered in the arrival and departure areas. Arrange this with your airline in advance.
• Car rental: car rental desks operate at the airport, with options that include hiring a car with a driver.

Airlines at KHI Airport, Including Fly Jinnah

Karachi is a base for Pakistan's main airlines and a busy link to the Gulf, Saudi Arabia and beyond. Two current route listings agree on the carriers below.

Pakistani airlines

• Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national carrier, with domestic flights and routes to the Gulf and Saudi Arabia.
• Fly Jinnah, a Karachi-based low-cost airline.
• Airblue and AirSial, private carriers linking Karachi with Islamabad, Lahore and other cities.

Fly Jinnah at Jinnah International Airport

Many people who reach this page are searching for Fly Jinnah. It is a low-cost airline set up as a joint venture between Air Arabia and Pakistan's Lakson Group, and it is based in Karachi. Its flights from Jinnah International Airport cover major Pakistani cities such as Islamabad and Lahore, along with international routes to the Middle East. Despite the shared name, Fly Jinnah is an airline, while Jinnah International is the airport. For schedules and online booking, compare Fly Jinnah flights alongside other carriers so you can see every option on your route.

International airlines

Foreign carriers serving Karachi include Emirates, flydubai, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Saudia, Turkish Airlines and Thai Airways. For travellers in Malaysia and Singapore, Batik Air Malaysia links Karachi with Kuala Lumpur, and connections through the Gulf, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur open up many more routes.

Getting to and from Jinnah International Airport

There is no rail link into the terminal, so almost everyone travels by road.

Taxi

Official taxi counters sit just outside international arrivals, and radio cab companies also operate from the airport. Using a counter means you know which company you are riding with before you set off. Carry smaller notes in Pakistani rupees, since drivers may not have change.

Bus

Public buses run past the airport along Shahrah-e-Faisal and into the city. They cost little, but they are crowded and have little room for suitcases, so most visitors with luggage prefer a taxi or a pre-arranged transfer.

Car rental and hotel transfers

Car rental desks at the airport offer self-drive and chauffeur options. Many Karachi hotels can also arrange a driver to meet you in the arrivals hall, which is the easiest choice after a late-night landing.

Tips for Flying Through KHI Airport

• Leave early. Karachi's traffic is unpredictable, and queues for check-in and immigration can build when several international flights leave close together. Check your airline's check-in deadline and aim to be comfortably ahead of it.
• Know your concourse. International flights normally board from the Jinnah East Satellite and domestic ones from Jinnah West. Confirm your gate on the screens after security.
• Keep documents to hand. Have your passport or national identity card and your ticket ready. Keeping them in an easy-to-reach pocket saves time at each check.
• Plan for the heat. Karachi is hot for much of the year. Drink water, and allow for slower movement around the terminal forecourt in the middle of the day.
• Carry some cash. Rupees are useful for taxis, porters and snacks, even though cards are accepted in many shops.

Exploring Karachi from Jinnah International Airport

Karachi sits on the Arabian Sea coast and is Pakistan's economic engine, a sprawling city of markets, colonial buildings and seafront. The white marble Mazar-e-Quaid, the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, is a major city landmark and a fitting first stop given the airport's name. Nearby, Frere Hall and the Empress Market in Saddar show off Karachi's older architecture.

Head south to Clifton for the seafront at Clifton Beach and the grand Mohatta Palace, now a museum. For food, Burns Road is famous for its street stalls and traditional Karachi dishes. Karachi is also a gateway for trips into Sindh, including the historic city of Thatta.

Planning your trip? Compare flights to and from KHI on Traveloka and set a Price Alert to hear when fares drop.