New Gwadar Airport Opens with Delayed Inaugural Flight

The New Gwadar International Airport, a flagship project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is officially operational as of today. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-503, scheduled to depart from Karachi at 9:14 am, experienced a 45-minute delay. It eventually took off at 10:00 am. Upon arrival, the inaugural flight will receive a water salute to mark the occasion.

Prominent dignitaries, including Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, along with other notable figures from Pakistan and China, are present to welcome the passengers at the new airport. The facility, located in the Gurandani area, is 26 kilometres from Gwadar city. It spans an impressive 430 acres, making it the largest airport in Pakistan by area.

Equipped with a single runway measuring 3,658 metres in length and 75 metres in width, the airport can handle aircraft like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. The project, which cost approximately Rs50 billion, was symbolically inaugurated by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on October 14, 2024.

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With today’s commencement of regular flight operations, the new airport has also replaced the old Gwadar airport on flight tracking platforms. This milestone marks a significant achievement for CPEC, promising enhanced connectivity and economic growth for the region.