| Ishwardi Airport, Pabna | |
| Nativename: | ঈশ্বরদী বিমানবন্দর, পাবনা |
| Iata: | IRD |
| Icao: | VGIS |
| Type: | Public |
| Owner: | Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh |
| Operator: | Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh |
| City-Served: | Ishwardi & Pabna |
| Location: | Lalpur Upazila, Natore District, & Ishwardi Upazila, Pabna District, Bangladesh |
| Pushpin Map: | Bangladesh |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Ishurdi Airport |
| Pushpin Label: | VGIS |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| R1-Length-F: | 4700 |
| R1-Surface: | Asphalt |
Ishwardi Airport is a domestic airport located exactly at Lalpur Upazila in Natore district but the airport and surrounding area is considered to located at Ishwardi Upazila in Pabna District.[1] [2] [3] Biman Bangladesh Airlines operated regular flights from here to Dhaka until 1996.[4] On 18 November 2013, United Airways resumed flights to Dhaka, thus commercial services resumed after 17 years, but flights to the airport were suspended in mid-2014.[5] [6]
During World War II, the airport was known as the Hijli Base Area, and was used by the Twentieth Air Force.[7] It hosted the United States Army Air Force XX Bomber Command 58th Bombardment Wing between 8–24 February 1945, prior to its deployment to the Mariana Islands.
As of August 2014, no airlines serve Ishwardi Airport. United Airways was the last airline to operate there; they stopped services in mid -2014.[6]
A persistent dispute has raged between residents of Natore and Pabna, each asserting that Ishwardi Airport is situated within their respective districts. In reality, the administrative building of the airport geographically falls under Lalpur Upazila of Natore District. But due to historical and socio-economic reasons, the airport area is considered to be a specialized administrative area of Ishwardi Upazila of Pabna District. According to official documents from Bangladesh's Civil Aviation Authority, the airport's location is documented as being within Pabna District.