inDrive · About 10–25 min to central Peshawar (estimate)
Where they are
One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
ISB7.0+1.0
PEW6.0
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
ISB6.8+1.8
PEW5.0
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
ISB6.4+3.4
PEW3.0
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
ISB6.4+0.9
PEW5.5
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
ISB5.8+1.3
PEW4.5
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
ISB6.6+1.1
PEW5.5
Best for
ISB
PIA / SereneAir connections that can sit one 2018 hallPriority Pass after international immigration (Airline Lounge, ~3.7)Orange Line Metrobus when you are not racing a connection
PEW
Direct flights from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh and MuscatOverseas Pakistanis and Gulf workers flying home to the north-westPriority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass members (two 24-hour CIP lounges)
Watch out for
ISB
FCDO: visa in advance on visa.nadra.gov.pk — leftover VPA / VOA is leftover-wrongUber left Islamabad in 2022; Careem ride-hailing ended 18 July 2025Official leftover 9 million is capacity, not FY 2024–25 traffic (6,804,439)International is a 4-hour ASF + immigration airport
PEW
Saudi and Gulf flights can be cancelled at short notice during the regional conflict (Riyadh especially)The UK advises against all travel to Peshawar and the US says do not travel to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; foreigners need advance permission to travel in the provinceSecurity checks at the airport gate plus polio-certificate and immigration checks: arrive 4 hours before international flights
Amenities and tips
ISB
Airline Lounge (PP 24/7, ~3.7)Orange Line Metrobus + official taxis24/7 departure-lounge food courtInternational duty-free mallPrayer rooms + two PAA-car-park mosquesTerminal Wi-Fi unpublished
International is a 4-hour airport
IIAP wants you 4 hours before an international departure and 1.5–2 hours before domestic. ASF screens bags at the door, then check-in, then immigration, then another search before the lounge.
One hall — international left, domestic right, no T2
IIAP is a single 2018 passenger building. International and domestic share the curb and split after check-in. There is no numbered Terminal 2 and no airside walk to leftover Chaklala.
Airside food court is 24/7 — names are unpublished
PAA says most retail and dining in the international and domestic departure lounges run 24/7 for the Gulf banks. The official restaurants page does not name McDonald's or Starbucks.
PEW
CIP Lounge (International)CIP Lounge (Domestic)Free Wi-Fi in the loungesPrayer areasATMs and currency exchangeTaxis and inDrive
Arrive 4 hours before Gulf flights
4 hours before international flights; several checks before the gate.
One building, two departure lounges
International CIP lounge by Gate 2, domestic by Gate 5.
Snacks in the CIP lounge, little else confirmed
Food outlets unconfirmed; the CIP lounges serve snacks.
ISB · 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.
PEW · Peshawar is a compact, close-to-town gateway from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the Gulf and Saudi Arabia, with two 24-hour Priority Pass lounges, but heavy security checks, unconfirmed food options, conflict-related Saudi and Gulf cancellations and UK/US advice against travel to the province make it a place to arrive early and check your flight.
