How to Book Travel on Balkh Airlines

Balkh Airlines is based in the town of Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan. As of August 2006, its fleet consists of just one aircraft. Although the airline is relatively unknown and its fleet quite small, its history is fascinating. Balkh Airlines began as a rebel passenger airline in 1996, whose purpose was to compete against the government-owned Ariana Afghan Airlines.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Book Your International Flight to Afghanistan

1. Locate the destination city you would like to travel to first. Kabul is usually the simplest place to arrive.

2. Book your travel on an airline that flies to and from Kabul, such as Ariana Afghan Airlines or Kam Air. This is the hub for most Afghan airlines and will make the booking process much easier.

Book Travel on Balkh Airlines

3. Meet with a specialized travel agent who speaks Persian or Pashto to book a flight on Balkh Airlines.

4. Buy your tickets for air travel within Afghanistan before flying overseas, if at all possible. However, if you speak Pashto or Persian, you may decide to wait until you have arrived in Afghanistan to book your domestic Balk Airlines tickets.

Tips & Warnings

• There currently is no English-language Web site or phone number for Balkh Airlines.
• Trying to book a flight through Balkh Airlines is quite challenging, so keeping other airline options open is a good idea.
• Islam is the main religion in Afghanistan.
• Keep in mind that the weather in Afghanistan is extreme. The winters are quite cold and the summers are very hot.