Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) officially launched international operations from the newly inaugurated New Gwadar International Airport today. The first flight, PK-197, departed for Muscat at 9:41 AM with 39 passengers on board. The same ATR aircraft will return to Gwadar later in the afternoon as flight PK-198.
Earlier, the aircraft arrived in Gwadar from Karachi as flight PK-503, carrying passengers to the state-of-the-art airport.
PIA has introduced a weekly international flight to Muscat from the new airport. Senior PIA officials were present at the airport to bid farewell to passengers on this inaugural flight.
The New Gwadar International Airport, a flagship project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), began operations on January 20. While designed to handle larger Airbus and Boeing aircraft, PIA is initially deploying ATR planes on this route due to limited passenger demand. Aviation officials have indicated that larger aircraft will be introduced as demand grows.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the operationalization of the airport as a significant milestone, enhancing Pakistan’s connectivity with Central Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, and the Gulf.
The airport’s first commercial flight, PK-503, landed on January 20 with 46 passengers. The arrival was celebrated with a water cannon salute and a ceremony attended by Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, Balochistan Governor Jafar Khan Mandokhel, and Chief Minister Sarfaraz Ahmad Bugti.
Located 26 kilometers from Gwadar city in the Gurandani area, the New Gwadar International Airport spans 4,300 acres, making it Pakistan’s largest airport by area. It features a 3,658-meter runway capable of accommodating large aircraft, such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. Built at a cost of $246 million, with contributions from Pakistan, China, and Oman, the airport is equipped to handle 400,000 passengers annually and includes advanced air traffic control systems and security facilities.
