Gwadar International Airport now operational with first commercial flight landing
The New Gwadar International Airport was operational on Monday after a commercial flight landed at the Beijing-funded airport, marking the first commercial aircraft to arrive since the airport’s inauguration.
A water cannon salute was given to the Pakistan International Airlines flight. Flight PK-503 landed in the port city’s new airport from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.
The New Gwadar International Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang during the latter’s visit to Pakistan in October.
The federal government designated the airport as an international airport on December 28, 2024. The permission was granted for passengers to board and disembark from international flights at Gwadar International Airport.
Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif and Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, along with officials, welcomed the flight. They received the passengers at the new airport.
Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail and economist Kaiser Bengali were also among the passengers.
The airport was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs54.98 billion (approximately $240 million). It features runways built to international standards.
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The new airport is located 26km northeast of the existing Gwadar airport, and spans 4,300 acres of land provided by the Government of Pakistan. It is the second greenfield airport in the country, following the new Islamabad Airport.
The airport would be able to handle a variety of aircraft, including the ATR 72, Airbus A-300, Boeing 737, and Boeing 747, for both domestic and international flights.
According to the PTV News, it is expected to serve 400,000 passengers annually. The number would rise to 1.6 million over time. The runway is 3,658 metres long and 75 metres wide.
“The NGIP is located on a historical air route near the Gulf of Oman such as the London-Karachi corridor with nearly 260 daily overflights in the Gwadar region,” DG Airports Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed said.
“Over 50 airlines transit near NGIP, presenting immense opportunities for the airlines, for cargo operations, refuelling and technical stops in the near future,” he said.
The runway is 12,000ft wideX250ft wide, he said and added that the airport has five parking bases with two boarding bridges adaptable for domestic and international operations.
“Founders of CPEC while admitting Gwadar role prioritised NGIP construction to provide a crucial connection between Pakistan and the world,” Aviation Minister Asif said.
He added that the country should be thankful to China for prioritising Gwadar to build the new airport.
“It is not just an airport, but a door to endless opportunities,” the aviation minister said and added that it would boost trade and tourism.
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