Milestone Achieved: First Flight Lands in New Gwadar
Pakistan crossed a major milestone in aviation history when the first commercial flight successfully landed at the New Gwadar International Airport.
PIA flight PK-503 departed from Karachi at 9:50 am and landed at the state-of-the-art airport in Gwadar at 11:15 am.
Carrying 44 passengers, the flight marked the start of regular operations at the New Gwadar Airport.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif was the chief guest at the event. He was accompanied by Governor Balochistan Jafar Khan Mandokhel and Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti who welcomed the historic flight and its passengers.
In his address on the occasion, the Defense Minister stressed the importance of the New Gwadar International Airport in promoting economic development, regional tourism, and international connectivity.
Other distinguished guests included Director General ASF Major General Adnan, Director General PAA Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed, GOC 44 Division Major General Adnan Sarwar Malik, Pakistan Navy Rear Admiral Adnan, Deputy Director General Airports Sadiq-ur-Rehman, and Deputy Commissioner Gwadar Hamood-ur-Rehman.
During the ceremony, the Defense Minister presented certificates and shields to the distinguished guests who contributed to the success of the New Gwadar Airport.
The recipients of the awards included Chief Minister Bugti, Governor Mandokhel, Secretary Aviation Mangi, CEO PIA Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat, DG ASF Major General Adnan Sarwar Malik, Rear Admiral Adnan, and officials from various projects. Secretary Aviation Mangi and DG PAA Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed presented a shield to Khawaja Asif in recognition of his leadership in the development of Pakistan’s aviation sector.
The New Gwadar International Airport is poised to play a key role in connecting Pakistan to global markets and promoting trade, tourism, and economic growth.
The successful landing of PIA flight PK-503 is a significant step towards Gwadar realizing its full potential as a regional and global trade hub.
What are the key features and characteristics of the New Gwadar Airport?
The virtual inauguration of the New Gwadar Airport was held on October 16, 2024, by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Pakistani Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. Gwadar International Airport is the largest airport in the country by area, the construction of which began in 2019.
Pakistan has also offered to refuel all small aircraft flying from Europe to Asia at Gwadar Airport at a minimum cost, which is likely to divert air traffic from Sharjah and Dubai to Pakistan.
This will save airline companies at least two hours of time and fuel, while this process will initially generate an income of 500 billion for Pakistan.
Gwadar International Airport has been built at Gurdani, (26) kilometers from Gwadar Port. This airport is a masterpiece of friendship between Pakistan and China, which has been built by more than 1,000 Pakistani and 200 Chinese engineers on 4,300 acres, at a cost of more than 55 billion rupees.
The runway of the airport is 3,800 meters long and 45 meters wide, the modern terminal of international standards has been divided into two parts 14,000 square meters, in which terminals have been built for international and domestic travel.
The biggest beneficiary of the airport will be the friendly country of China, while other countries in the region will also be able to use this airport for commercial purposes. Gwadar International Airport will have landing facilities for Airbus A300, Boeing B747, and other aircraft.
Gwadar Airport will provide employment opportunities to thousands of people, and thousands of people in other sectors including maritime and land transport will also be able to get employment opportunities from commercial activities in the region. According to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, the contract for the construction of the new airport was awarded to China Airport Construction Group, a subsidiary of China Communication Construction Company, a Chinese government agency.
According to the authority, a beautiful and smart terminal building equipped with modern facilities, 42 feet high and 14,000 square meters, has been constructed for Gwadar Airport, which will initially be able to handle more than 400,000 passengers annually. The cargo capacity is 30,000 tons annually.
A bridge facility has also been provided for passengers to go from the terminal to the flight.
The three-month process reviewed standards, regulations, airport design, and operational performance.
The airport will be managed by a joint venture of Pakistan, Oman, and China, but its management and operation will be overseen by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, and the airport will operate under an open skies policy.
