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ISBOPIS

Islamabad International Airport

Islamabad, PK

Airportist Score

Arrive

Security

Fastest

Cheapest

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On time

ISBGuide

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ISBOPISModerate

Islamabad International Airport

Islamabad, Pakistan · Asia-Pacific

Islamabad's 2018 PAA hall is Pakistan's busiest on the PCAA FY 2024–25 count: one building, two 24/7 Priority Pass rooms, and a Metrobus — paid for with a 4-hour international, no Uber, leftover VOA that is leftover-wrong, and a 25 km highway hop.

Airportist Score

6.6/ 10

Solid

Ease of use7.0
Comfort & amenities6.8
Food & retail6.4
Ground access6.4
Reliability5.8
Lounges6.6

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare ISB with another airport

Arrive

Security

Fastest

Cheapest

Lounges

On time

ISBGuide

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All airports Official site

ISBOPISModerate

Islamabad International Airport

Islamabad, Pakistan · Asia-Pacific

Islamabad's 2018 PAA hall is Pakistan's busiest on the PCAA FY 2024–25 count: one building, two 24/7 Priority Pass rooms, and a Metrobus — paid for with a 4-hour international, no Uber, leftover VOA that is leftover-wrong, and a 25 km highway hop.

Airportist Score

6.6/ 10

Solid

Ease of use7.0
Comfort & amenities6.8
Food & retail6.4
Ground access6.4
Reliability5.8
Lounges6.6

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare ISB with another airport

Arrive
4 h
before international flights
Typical security
25 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
35–50 min
Metro Radio Cab / yellow cab
Cheapest to city
Orange Line Metrobus
Rs 100 · 50–80 min
Lounges
2
1 rated worth it
Terminals
1
live hall: international and domestic under one roof. No numbered T2. No live third runway.

11 photos

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

TLBTarbela Dam Airport
Tarbela Dam
52 km
XJMMangla Airport
Mangla
94 km
RAZRawalakot Airport
Rawala Kot
95 km
MFGMuzaffarabad Airport
Muzaffarabad
107 km
OHTKohat Airport
Kohat
129 km
PEWBacha Khan International Airport
Peshawar
131 km

TLBTarbela Dam Airport
Tarbela Dam
52 km
XJMMangla Airport
Mangla
94 km
RAZRawalakot Airport
Rawala Kot
95 km
MFGMuzaffarabad Airport
Muzaffarabad
107 km
OHTKohat Airport
Kohat
129 km
PEWBacha Khan International Airport
Peshawar
131 km

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ISBGuide

ISBGuide

Worth it

Main terminalAirside international departures

The only public international room: Priority Pass 24/7, ~3.7, 3-hour access window, upstairs next to the stairs after immigration and the ASF search. Light buffet, prayer room, no showers, no alcohol. LoungePair leftover Prestigio is this same CIP, not a second international hall.

Access: Priority Pass · DragonPass · Business class ticket · Day pass

Hours: 00:00–23:59 daily; Priority Pass access from 3 hours before scheduled departure

Amenities: Air conditioning · Soft drinks · Prayer room · Flight information · Disabled access · Digital card accepted

Best for: Priority Pass after international immigration · The only sit between the airside mall and the gates

Full access guide

Depends

Main terminalAirside domestic departures

Domestic-only CIP opposite gates C3–C4, 24/7 on Priority Pass with a 2-hour cap. Same building as the international Airline Lounge, but you cannot cross after the domestic security split. Fine if you have time; skip it for a 40-minute domestic turn.

Access: Priority Pass · DragonPass · Day pass

Hours: 00:00–23:59 daily; Priority Pass stay capped at 2 hours

Amenities: Air conditioning · Soft drinks · Wi-Fi · Flight information · Disabled access · Digital card accepted

Best for: Domestic Priority Pass between C3 and C4

Full access guide

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

Airline Lounge (Priority Pass, ~3.7 / 783): international only, 00:00–23:59, access from 3 hours before departure, children under 2 free, upstairs next to the stairs after immigration and the ASF search. Prayer room. No showers. No alcohol. DragonPass lists the same room. Walk-in leftover US$20–23 — confirm the till.
CIP Lounge (Priority Pass): domestic only, opposite gates C3 and C4, 00:00–23:59, max 2 hours. Wi-Fi is on the PP card. Same 'depends' if you have a short domestic turn.
LoungePair leftover Prestigio International Lounge is the international CIP / Airline Lounge, not a third product. Do not book two international rooms.
Food: PAA says most departure-lounge dining is 24/7. Named chains are unpublished on the operator restaurants page — do not invent leftover McDonald's / Starbucks. Duty-free is on the international airside mall.
Baggage wrap at check-in: PKR 200 standard (< 60 inches L+W+H), PKR 400 oversized, with a Rs 20 bump each 1 July from 2027. Leftover PKR 50 wrap is leftover-stale.

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