New Gwadar airport starts operations with landing of first PIA flight

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight landed at the Gwadar International Airport, making it the first commercial aircraft to arrive at the new airport after its inauguration on Monday.

According to the flight schedule available on the website of Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, the first flight, PK 593, was expected to depart 9:20am.

In addition to passengers, high-ranking officials from the aviation division were also onboard the inaugural flight.

Meanwhile, Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti were present at the ceremony to welcome the passengers.

Furthermore, the inaugural flight was also greeted with a water salute.

Covering about 4,300 acres of land, the airport was completed in December 2024, and is now fully functional with domestic and international flights.

Previously, the New Gwadar International Airport, developed with a $230 million grant by China, had remained largely inactive due to the failure of aviation and port authorities to market the facility internationally or engage consultants for its commercialisation.