The Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA) said on Sunday that within the next six weeks a standard flight radar system will be installed at the Hamid Karzai International airport.
 
In addition, a new airport terminal is planned – which will accommodate more than 10 million people a year, said the ACAA chief, adding that plans were also in the pipeline to build a five star hotel at the airport.
 
Speaking at his welcoming ceremony as new chief of the ACAA, Mohmmod Shah Habibi said he will fight corruption and will also strengthen the airport’s role in the country’s economic growth.
 
“In the past 14 years, all of Afghanistan’s airports have been used as military bases but after this we will try to change our airports to economic engines,” said Habibi.
 
Former ACAA chief Hamid Zahir said that the ACAA needs more financial resources to further improve its accountability and increase its capacity.
 
“Farah, Nimroz, Khost, Zabul and Kunduz are the new airports - some of them have been inaugurated and some others are under construction,” said Zahir.
 
Based on ACAA statistics, there are 27 airports across the country but they are not in line with international standards.