The New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) is officially open to the public and all forms of commercial air traffic as the first commercial flight successfully landed at the airport on January 20. PIA flight PK-503, departing from Karachi at 9:50 am, touched down at the state-of-the-art Gwadar facility at 11:15 am, carrying 46 passengers.  This marked the official commencement of operations at the newly inaugurated airport.

The New Gwadar International Airport is poised to play a pivotal role in connecting Pakistan to global markets, facilitating trade, tourism, and economic development.  The successful landing of PIA flight PK-503 is a significant step toward realizing Gwadar’s potential as a regional and global hub for commerce and connectivity. In preparation for the operationalization of the airport, a test flight of the Air King B700 Aircraft successfully landed at NGIA on June 4, 2024. 

On September 20, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) formally handed over the Multilayered Security Management System (MSMS) of the New Gwadar International Airport to the Airport Security Force (ASF), an executive department of the Ministry of Aviation in Pakistan. Spanning an area of 4,300 acres, NGIA features 32 key components, including a state-of-the-art runway, aprons, terminals, and a full suite of civil, technical, electrical, and communication infrastructure, alongside modern allied facilities.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)