Gwadar Airport
The New Gwadar International Airport, a flagship project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), officially began operations today with its inaugural flight, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan’s aviation sector.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-503, operated by an ATR aircraft, landed at 11:14 am at the state-of-the-art airport. The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, along with other officials. The aircraft was ceremonially welcomed with a water salute.
Although the flight’s departure from Karachi was scheduled for 9:14 am, it experienced a 46-minute delay, finally taking off at 10 am.
Upon landing, the New Gwadar International Airport officially replaced the old airport on flight tracking platforms, with its location now reflected on flight radar.
Spanning an impressive 4,300 acres, the New Gwadar International Airport is Pakistan’s largest in terms of area. Located 26 kilometers from Gwadar city in the Gurandani area, the airport boasts a single runway measuring 3,658 meters in length and 75 meters in width.
This runway is capable of accommodating the world’s largest aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. Constructed at an approximate cost of Rs50 billion, the airport symbolizes Pakistan’s growing aspirations to become a regional aviation hub.
The airport’s formal inauguration was carried out by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on October 14, 2024. With regular flight operations beginning today, this development is expected to significantly boost connectivity and economic activities in the region.
In a related development, PIA resumed its long-suspended flights to Europe last month after a ban imposed in 2020 was lifted.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) granted the national carrier authorization to operate in Europe again, marking a major milestone. However, PIA remains barred from flying to the United Kingdom and the United States.
The lifting of the European ban ends a challenging chapter for PIA, which faced scrutiny following a tragic crash in 2020 and allegations about dubious pilot licenses. The reopening of European operations signals progress in restoring trust and compliance with international aviation standards.
