KARACHI:The New Gwadar International Airport, a significant project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has officially become operational after receiving its inaugural flight today.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-503 touched down at 11:14 am at the new airport and was greeted by Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, and other dignitaries.
The aircraft used for this landmark flight was an ATR, which received a water salute upon landing. Although the flight was scheduled to depart at 9:14 am, it took off from Karachi at 10:00 am, experiencing a 46-minute delay.
The New Gwadar International Airport has replaced the old airport on flight tracking platforms, with its updated location now visible on flight radar.
Spread over 4,300 acres, the airport is Pakistan’s largest in terms of area. Situated 26 kilometers from Gwadar city in the Gurandani area, it features a single runway measuring 3,658 meters in length and 75 meters in width. This runway is capable of accommodating large aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747.
Constructed at an approximate cost of Rs50 billion, the airport’s symbolic inauguration was conducted by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on October 14, 2024. Regular flight operations officially commence today.
PIA Europe Operations
In another milestone, PIA was recently permitted to resume its long-awaited flights to Europe, marking a significant achievement for the national carrier after more than four years of suspension.
PIA’s authorization to operate in Europe was suspended in June 2020 due to concerns about the ability of Pakistani authorities and the Civil Aviation Authority to meet international aviation standards.
The ban on PIA flights to the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States was implemented in June 2020, following a tragic crash of an Airbus A-320 in Karachi, which claimed nearly 100 lives. The disaster was attributed to human error by the pilots and air traffic control, and subsequent investigations revealed allegations of fake or dubious pilot licenses.
In November 2024, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency announced the lifting of the ban. However, PIA remains barred from operating in the United Kingdom and the United States.
