After one month of commercial operation of New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), flight operation has picked up momentum as two flights have been added into weekly flight operation management. Before opening up of NGIA, Gwadar used to see three flights in a week. Now since January 20, 2025 to February 20 2025, five flights have come into formal operation in a week. These five flights include “on Monday PK-503 and PK 504 from Karachi to Gwadar and Gwadar to Karachi with PK 197 and PK 198 from Muskat to Gwadar and Gwadar to Muskat. 

Then on Wednesday PK 503 and PK 504 from Karachi to Gwadar and Gwadar to Karachi. Meanwhile on Friday, PK 503 and Pk 504 from Karachi to Gwadar and Gwadar to Karachi with PK 197 and PK 198 from Gwadar to Muskat and Muskat to Gwadar.” This is heyday for NGIA as encouraging development has also led to hike in passenger traffic, said by CAA official to Gwadar Pro.  He laid bare the fact that further uptick in flight operation is in offing as many private airlines including Fly Jinnah, Air Sial, Air Blue and Serene Air have submitted their requests to operate for Gwadar through New Gwadar International Airport.

Private airline “Air Sial” official said that since NGIA is overbrimming with profuse benefits and lucrative incentives like no landing charges, no parking charges and no housing charges, we expect more bangs for our bucks. Covering an area of 4,300 acres as the second biggest airport in Pakistan, NGIA is ready to accommodate ATR 72, Boeing B-737, Airbus A-380 and Boeing B-747 for domestic and international routes.

The New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) officially opened 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, departed from Karachi at 9:50 am and touched down at the state-of-the-art Gwadar facility at 11:15 am, carrying 46 passengers. The successful landing of PIA flight PK-503 proved a significant step toward realizing Gwadar’s potential as a regional and global hub for commerce and connectivity.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China