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

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

❓ 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.