Bagram Air Base (OAI) – Overview and Information

Bagram Air Base (IATA: OAI, ICAO: OAIX) is a major airfield located in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, about 40 kilometers north of Kabul. Known historically as the largest U.S. military base in Afghanistan, it has played a central role in military and humanitarian operations for decades.

Bagram has also served as a civilian airport at various times, although it remains primarily a military facility under the control of Afghanistan’s Defense Forces since 2021.

? History and Background

The airfield was originally built in the 1950s with Soviet assistance. During the Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989), Bagram served as a major Soviet air operations hub.

Following the events of September 11, 2001, the United States and NATO forces developed it into a fully equipped air base, supporting the coalition mission in Afghanistan. At its peak, it could accommodate tens of thousands of troops and handle large aircraft like the C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules.

In July 2021, the base was handed back to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) after U.S. troop withdrawal.

? Airport Information Table

✈️ Facilities and Infrastructure

Bagram Air Base was one of the most advanced military airfields in Central Asia. Its infrastructure includes:

• Two long, all-weather runways capable of handling large transport aircraft.

• Over 100 aircraft shelters, hangars, and maintenance units.

• Full air traffic control tower, radar systems, and night-landing capabilities.

• Cargo terminals for heavy airlift operations.

• On-base medical centers, barracks, dining halls, and logistics zones.

• A detention facility and command center used during U.S. operations.

Though primarily military, the base also supported humanitarian and disaster relief missions across Afghanistan.

?️ Location and Accessibility

Bagram Air Base is located in Bagram District of Parwan Province, nestled in a flat valley region surrounded by mountains. The base is strategically positioned near Kabul, Salang Pass, and the main northern highway, offering easy logistical movement.

Currently, civilian access to Bagram is restricted, and only authorized personnel, military aircraft, and government operations are permitted.

? Strategic Importance

Bagram’s geographical position made it a key hub for international defense and logistics throughout the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). It served as:

• A forward operating base for the U.S. and NATO.

• A refueling and maintenance station for long-haul military aircraft.

• A command and control center for Afghan defense operations post-2021.

Today, the Afghan Armed Forces use the airfield for national security and limited military training exercises.

?️ Legacy and Future Use

Bagram Air Base remains a symbol of Afghanistan’s complex modern history. While its role as a foreign military hub has ended, discussions continue about potential civilian-military dual use in the future, focusing on regional transport and humanitarian logistics.

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#	Airport Name	IATA Code	City	Logo
1	Vijayawada International Airport	VGA	Vijayawada
2	Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport	GAU	Guwahati
3	Visakhapatnam International Airport	VTZ	Visakhapatnam
4	Chennai International Airport	MAA	Chennai
5	Raja Bhoj Airport	BHO	Bhopal
6	Coimbatore International Airport	CJB	Coimbatore
7	Vadodara Airport	BDQ	Vadodara
8	Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport	IDR	Indore
9	Jolly Grant Airport	DED	Dehradun
10	Pakyong Airport	PYG	Pakyong
11	Jammu Airport	IXJ	Jammu	N/A
12	Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport	IXA	Agartala
13	Veer Savarkar International Airport	IXZ	Port Blair
14	Surat International Airport	STV	Surat
15	Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport	LKO	Lucknow
16	Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport	NAG	Nagpur
17	Birsa Munda Airport	IXR	Ranchi
18	Tirupati International Airport	TIR	Tirupati
19	Dimapur Airport	DMU	Dimapur
20	Cochin International Airport	COK	Cochin
21	Mangaluru International Airport	IXE	Mangaluru
22	Thiruvananthapuram International Airport	TRV	Thiruvananthapuram
23	Shillong Airport	SHL	Shillong
24	Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport	CCU	Kolkata
25	Kempegowda International Airport	BLR	Bengaluru
26	Darbhanga Airport	DBR	Darbhanga
27	Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport	BOM	Mumbai
28	Rajiv Gandhi International Airport	HYD	Hyderabad
29	Hindon Airport	HDO	Lucknow	N/A
30	Lengpui Airport	AJL	Aizawl
31	Indira Gandhi International Airport	DEL	Delhi
32	Tiruchirappalli International Airport	TRZ	Tirupati
33	Kannur International Airport	CNN	Kannur
34	Bir Tikendrajit International Airport	IMF	Imphal
35	Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport	AMD	Ahmedabad
36	Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport	ATQ	Amritsar
37	Manohar International Airport	GOX	Goa
38	Nashik International Airport	ISK	Nashik
39	Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport	IXL	Leh
40	Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport	VNS	Varanasi
41	Biju Patnaik International Airport	BBI	Bhubaneswar
42	Srinagar Airport	SXR	Srinagar
43	Bagdogra International Airport	IXB	Bagdogra
44	Madurai Airport	IXM	Madurai
45	Gaya Airport	GAY	Gaya
46	Jaipur International Airport	JAI	Jaipur
47	Calicut International Airport	CCJ	Kozhikode
48	Goa International Airport	GOI	Goa
49	Pune Airport	PNQ	Pune

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#	Airport Name	IATA Code	Country	Logo
1	Qala I Naw Airport	LQN	Afghanistan
2	Dundee	DND	United Kingdom
3	Darwaz Airport	DAZ	Afghanistan
4	Lucapa Airport	LBZ	Angola
5	Welwitschia Mirabilis International Airport	MSZ	Angola
6	Cuango-Luzamba Airport	LZM	Angola
7	N'dalatando Airport	NDF	Angola
8	Catumbela Airport	CBT	Angola
9	Syunik Airport	YUK	Armenia
10	Coventry Airport Limited	CVT	United Kingdom
11	Edinburgh	EDI	United Kingdom
12	Andorra La Vella	ALV	Andorra
13	Houari Boumediene Airport	ALG	Algeria
14	London Luton	LTN	United Kingdom	N/A
15	Humberside Airport	HUY	United Kingdom	N/A
16	Newcastle International	NCL	United Kingdom	N/A
17	Belfast International	BFS	United Kingdom
18	Uruzgan Airport	URZ	Afghanistan
19	Cafunfo Airport	CFF	Angola
20	Alderney	ACI	United Kingdom
21	Brighton City	ESH	United Kingdom
22	Kirkwall	KOI	United Kingdom	N/A
23	Shirak International Airport	LWN	Armenia
24	Sardeh Band Airport	SBF	Afghanistan
25	Glasgow Prestwick	PIK	United Kingdom	N/A
26	Aberdeen International	ABZ	United Kingdom
27	Inverness Airport	INV	United Kingdom	N/A
28	Saint Mary's / Isles Of Scilly	ISC	United Kingdom	N/A
29	Ondjiva Pereira Airport	VPE	Angola
30	East Midlands	EMA	United Kingdom
31	Chaghcharan Airport	CCN	Afghanistan
32	Albano Machado Airport	NOV	Angola
33	Blackpool Airport	BLK	United Kingdom
34	Benguela Airport	BUG	Angola
35	Kuran Wa Munjan Airport	KUR	Afghanistan
36	Bagram Air Base	OAI	Afghanistan
37	Sharana Airstrip	OAS	Afghanistan
38	Negage Airport	GXG	Angola
39	Vlora International Airport	VLO	Albania
40	Jersey	JER	United Kingdom	N/A
41	Sheberghan Airport	SBH	Afghanistan	N/A
42	Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport	HEA	Afghanistan	N/A
43	Fayzabad Airport	FBD	Afghanistan
44	Taloqan Airport	TQN	Afghanistan
45	Wycombe Air Park	HYC	United Kingdom	N/A
46	London Gatwick	LGW	United Kingdom	N/A
47	Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza	TIA	Albania
48	Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport	KDH	Afghanistan
49	Luena Airport	LUO	Angola
50	Sumburgh	LSI	United Kingdom	N/A
51	Dubai Creek Seaplane Base (Heliport)	DCG	United Arab Emirates
52	Gardez Airport	GRG	Afghanistan
53	Lubango Airport	SDD	Angola
54	Porto Amboim Airport	PBN	Angola
55	Land's End	LEQ	United Kingdom	N/A
56	Kukës International Airport Zayed	KFZ	Albania
57	Soyo Airport	SZA	Angola
58	Urgun Airport	URN	Afghanistan
59	Bristol	BRS	United Kingdom
60	Dundo Airport	DUE	Angola
61	Sheghnan Airport	SGA	Afghanistan
62	Andorra–La Seu D'Urgell Airport	LEU	Andorra
63	London Stansted	STN	United Kingdom	N/A
64	George Best Belfast City	BHD	United Kingdom	N/A
65	Burton–Nibbs International Airport	BBQ	Antigua And Barbuda
66	Menongue Airport	SPP	Angola
67	Quatro De Fevereiro International Airport	LAD	Angola
68	Lumbala Airport	GGC	Angola
69	Khost International Airport	KHT	Afghanistan
70	Oxford	OXF	United Kingdom	N/A
71	Bamyan Airport	BIN	Afghanistan
72	Cambridge City	CBG	United Kingdom
73	Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai World Central)	DWC	United Arab Emirates
74	Glasgow	GLA	United Kingdom	N/A
75	Nili Airport	NLI	Afghanistan
76	City Of Derry	LDY	United Kingdom
77	Jalalabad Airport	JAA	Afghanistan
78	Manchester	MAN	United Kingdom	N/A
79	Cornwall Airport Newquay	NQY	United Kingdom
80	Uíge Airport	UGO	Angola
81	Guernsey	GCI	United Kingdom	N/A
82	Kunduz Airport	UND	Afghanistan
83	Liverpool John Lennon	LPL	United Kingdom	N/A
84	Teesside International	MME	United Kingdom	N/A
85	Kabul International Airport	KBL	Afganistan
86	Carlisle Lake District	CAX	United Kingdom
87	Tarinkot Airport	TII	Afghanistan
88	Cuito Cuanavale Airport	CTI	Angola
89	Kapanda Airport	KNP	Angola
90	N'zeto Airport	ARZ	Angola
91	Zaranj Airport	ZAJ	Afghanistan
92	Farah Airport	FAH	Afghanistan
93	Saurimo Airport	VHC	Angola	N/A
94	Penzance Heliport	PZE	United Kingdom	N/A
95	Luau Airport	UAL	Angola	N/A
96	Manston International	MSE	United Kingdom	N/A
97	Jamba Airport	JMB	Angola
98	Southampton	SOU	United Kingdom	N/A
99	Benbecula	BEB	United Kingdom
100	Norwich	NWI	United Kingdom	N/A
101	Chitato Airport	PGI	Angola
102	Farnborough	FAB	United Kingdom	N/A
103	Mawlānā Jalāl Ad-Din Muhammad Balkhī Intl Airport	MZR	Afghanistan
104	London City	LCY	United Kingdom	N/A
105	Malanje Airport	MEG	Angola
106	Ghazni Airport	GZI	Afghanistan
107	Exeter	EXT	United Kingdom
108	Maymana Airport	MMZ	Afghanistan
109	Cardiff	CWL	United Kingdom
110	Joaquim Kapango Airport	SVP	Angola
111	Dubai International Airport	DXB	United Arab Emirates
112	Stornoway	SYY	United Kingdom	N/A
113	Dirico Airport	DRC	Angola
114	Heathrow	LHR	United Kingdom	N/A
115	Cazombo Airport	CAV	Angola
116	London Southend	SEN	United Kingdom	N/A
117	Wick John O'Groats	WIC	United Kingdom	N/A
118	Cabinda Airport	CAB	Angola
119	Khwahan Airport	KWH	Afghanistan
120	Birmingham	BHX	United Kingdom
121	Bournemouth	BOH	United Kingdom
122	Nzagi Airport	NZA	Angola
123	Zvartnots International Airport	EVN	Armenia
124	Waco Kungo Airport	CEO	Angola
125	Ronaldsway	IOM	Isle Of Man	N/A
126	Leeds Bradford	LBA	United Kingdom	N/A
127	V. C. Bird International Airport	ANU	Antigua And Barbuda
128	Sumbe Airport	NDD	Angola

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Where is Bagram Air Base located?
Bagram Air Base is in Parwan Province, about 40 km north of Kabul, Afghanistan.

2. Is Bagram Air Base still active?
Yes, it is currently operated by the Afghan Armed Forces for defense and limited air operations.

3. Can civilians travel through Bagram Air Base?
No, the air base is not open for public or commercial flights. Access is restricted to military and government use.

4. What was Bagram Air Base used for?
It served as a major U.S. and NATO military hub during the Afghanistan War (2001–2021).

5. Does Bagram Air Base handle international flights?
No, it no longer operates regular international or commercial flights — only authorized military movements.