The New Gwadar International Airport, a major infrastructure project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is now officially operational, with its inaugural flight landing on Monday. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-503, an ATR aircraft, touched down at 11:14am, marking the commencement of regular operations at the new facility. The flight was met with a water salute as a symbolic gesture of welcome, and the event was attended by high-ranking officials, including Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif.
The New Gwadar International Airport is situated 26 kilometers from Gwadar city in the Gurandani area, covering an expansive 4,300 acres, making it the largest airport in Pakistan by area. The airport features a 3,658-meter-long, 75-meter-wide runway capable of accommodating large aircraft like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. Constructed at a cost of approximately Rs50 billion, the airport represents a key milestone in the development of CPEC, which aims to enhance connectivity and trade in the region.
Although the symbolic inauguration took place in October 2024 under former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, today marks the official start of regular flight operations. The new airport replaces the old Gwadar airport, which has now been removed from flight tracking platforms.
Additionally, in a positive development for Pakistan’s aviation sector, PIA has also resumed its flights to Europe after a four-year hiatus. The national carrier was previously banned from flying to the European Union, United Kingdom, and the United States due to safety concerns. However, in November 2024, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency lifted the ban, allowing PIA to operate flights to Europe once again, though it remains prohibited from flying to the UK and the US.
