Airports / Afghanistan / KDH
Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport.
Kandahar, Afghanistan · 3,337 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
OAKN
IATA KDH
0
Operators based
3,337
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
94 nm
To the nearest alternate
Quetta International Airport (UET).
Overview
Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport, listed as OAKN / KDH, is a large commercial airport in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Field elevation is 3,337 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
While no charter operators list KDH as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Quetta International Airport (UET, 94 nm), Zhob Airport (PZH, 185 nm), and Zabol Airport (ACZ, 222 nm). The field has a single 10,532-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from KDH are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. You may also see the field referenced as Kandahar International Airport and Kandahar Airfield. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from KDH to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
OAKN
IATA
KDH
FAA / Local
OAKN
Elevation
3,337 ft
Coordinates
31.5058° N · 65.8480° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Afghanistan fields
state range 1,284–5,877 ft
At 3,337 ft, KDH sits higher than 56% of the 9 Afghanistan fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 10,532 ft
- 05/2310,532 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 10,532 ft
KDH's 10,532 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 94nmUETQuetta International AirportQuetta
- 185nmPZHZhob AirportFort Sandeman
- 222nmACZZabol AirportZabol
- 223nmOP12Shamsi AirfieldWashuk
- 227nmKHTKhost International AirportKhost
- 236nmJAGShahbaz Air BaseJacobabad
Location
Open the full mapOAKN · Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport · Kandahar, Afghanistan
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from KDH on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | 4,974 nm | 11h 58m |
| Boston (BED) | 5,776 nm | 13h 50m |
| New York (TEB) | 5,927 nm | 14h 11m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 6,046 nm | 14h 28m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 6,108 nm | 14h 36m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 6,163 nm | 14h 44m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 6,294 nm | 15h 2m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 6,462 nm | 15h 26m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use KDH?
- Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport's longest paved runway is 10,532 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at KDH?
- Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 10,532 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to KDH?
- The closest alternate is Quetta International Airport (UET), about 94 nm away, followed by Zhob Airport (PZH) at 185 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from KDH to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Anchorage about 11h 58m (4,974 nm), Boston about 13h 50m (5,776 nm), New York about 14h 11m (5,927 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.