According to the Public Relations and International Affairs of the Kish Free Zone Organization, Ezzatollah Mohammadi on the afternoon of Sunday, 17 Aban, in a gathering with media figures in the conference hall of the Kish Free Zone Organization, while explaining the grave mission of this company in managing the two exclusive entry and exit gateways of the island, outlined the actions and achievements of the past two years in the areas of infrastructure development, aviation and maritime operations, smartification and management of sensitive conditions.
40 percent growth in foreign passengers and start of direct Najaf–Kish flights
Ezzatollah Mohammadi, referring to the overarching strategy of the Kish Free Zone Organization to expand international relations and attract foreign tourists, announced a 40 percent increase in international flight passengers in 1404 and said: through continuous interactions and synergy with airlines, flight routes to Tajikistan, Erbil, Muscat and Baghdad became operational, which had a direct impact on market vitality and the island’s businesses; so much so that during peak demand periods, up to 12 weekly flights operated between Kish and destinations in Iraq. He also announced a pleasant piece of news for tourism operators and merchants: with the follow-ups carried out, the first direct flight on the Najaf–Kish route will be operated by one of the domestic airlines and ticket reservation systems are available to pilgrims and foreign tourists, which promises a new leap in this sector.
Commissioning of the airport standard runway and installation of a Boeing 737 simulator
Mohammadi continued, calling developments in navigation and aviation one of the brightest parts of this organization’s record and stated: the standard runway of Kish International Airport, capable of accommodating the widest commercial aircraft in the world, was equipped with the most advanced navigation aid equipment including ILS (Instrument Landing System for conditions of low pilot visibility) and DME (Distance Measuring Equipment which informs the pilot of the exact distance to the ground station), modern switching and standard approach lights (CAT-II) and joined the operational cycle; so that flight operations in adverse weather conditions, dense fog and severe dust storms can be carried out with greater safety and precision.
The CEO of Kish Ports and Airports Development and Management Company, referring to strategic steps to turn Kish into the country’s hub for specialized aviation training, said: with private sector investment, the first Boeing 737 flight simulator was installed at Kish Airport and with calibration and receipt of standard approvals, refresher and pilot training courses for the country are currently being held on the island without the need to send personnel abroad. He added: to eliminate shortage of maneuvering and parking space and to support international programs such as the air show, apron parking capacity was increased from 19 to 25 parking positions so that, while freeing up space for development projects, the groundwork for creating and launching large aircraft and helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centers on adjacent lands would be prepared.
Movement of 5.4 million passengers and the historic achievement of approving Bandar Chark as an official border
Mohammadi, in the performance statistics section on entry and exit traffic, said: from Azar 1403 to the end of Mehr of this year, a total of 5,476,331 people were transferred through the island’s air and sea gateways, of which Kish International Airport accounted for 3,988,000 and the sea terminals accounted for more than 1,487,000. He called the recent approval of the esteemed Cabinet to designate Bandar Chark as an official maritime border a historic milestone for regional development and stated: with the promulgation of this resolution and the establishment of customs, passport control and other sovereign agencies, an official mechanism for imports, exports, cargo transit and international passenger travel at Bandar Chark has been established, which will pave the way for an investment leap in port and hinterland sectors.
An end to kilometer-long maritime transit queues with electronic services
The CEO of Kish Ports and Airports, comparing current port conditions with past years, noted: in past years, congestion and 12-kilometer vehicle queues at port entry points were one of the main concerns of travelers; but with the design and launch of intelligent queuing systems, online issuance of passenger and vehicle tickets and the establishment of mechanized warehouse systems at Kish and Chark ports, this process became transparent and waiting times were reduced to the minimum possible. He referred to maritime infrastructure projects and added: dredging projects for the 35,000-ton quay, rehabilitation and reinforcement of oil and commercial quay number 13, renovation of fuel transfer pipelines and the seawater supply line for stabilizing the production of the Water and Power Company are being pursued and completed at speed.
Design of 25 investment opportunities with a financial volume of 19.4 hundred million
Mohammadi, referring to the necessity of moving the company away from a traditional cost structure and creating sustainable added value, said: with the preparation of feasibility study plans, 25 investment packages with an estimated financial volume of 19.4 hundred million have been defined, of which airport projects are estimated at 12.6 hundred million and port projects at 6.8 hundred million, and public calls for private sector participation have been published. He cited supportive measures such as raising the passenger baggage exemption ceiling from $80 to $3,000 and accelerating the process of vehicle entry and registration as decisive decisions to stimulate the Kish economy cycle and boost trades.
Air defense management and resilience of the island’s communication network during crisis days
Mohammadi, referring to sensitive security conditions and closure of the country’s airspace in past periods, explained the air defense measures and the performance of operational staff and said: in situations where the airspace was closed for security reasons, the maritime transport network, with immediate planning and establishment of a crisis headquarters, took over traffic management. With intelligent management, deployment of landing crafts, fast boats and even private sector pleasure ships, in a 40-day period more than 64,000 people (including 52,000 outbound passengers and more than 12,000 inbound passengers) along with over 10,000 vehicles were transferred without a single accident.
He also, while appreciating the measures and support of Mohammad Kabiri, CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, recalled: with close cooperation of the region’s senior management, while establishing KishAir flights to Lamerd Airport and ground transfer of passengers, the island’s connection to the country remained stable in the shortest possible time.