New Gwadar Airport Welcomes First Flight Operations

A Landmark Moment for CPEC: Gwadar Airport's Inaugural Flight

New Gwadar Airport Welcomes First Flight Operations


The New Gwadar International Airport, an integral project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), began operations with its inaugural flight on Monday. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-503 landed at 11:14 am, marking a historic moment.

The aircraft, an ATR, was greeted with a water salute and prominent officials, including Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail and Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti. Initially scheduled for a 9:14 am departure from Karachi, the flight experienced a slight delay, taking off at 10 am.

Spanning 4,300 acres, the New Gwadar International Airport is Pakistan's largest by area and is equipped to handle large aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. Located 26 km from Gwadar city, it features a 3,658-meter-long runway, providing world-class aviation capabilities. The project cost approximately Rs50 billion, with symbolic inauguration by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on October 14, 2024.

In a related development, PIA has resumed flights to Europe after a four-year suspension. The ban, imposed in June 2020 due to compliance concerns, was lifted by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in November, though restrictions for the UK and US remain.