With all bottlenecks and stoppages either administratively of the local authorities or by local terrorists for operationalizing newly build Gwadar Airport, finally came into reality when a flight from Chinese funded Gwadar Airport will kick off international flights on Jan 10. A dream for the local residence of Balochistan to become reality when the second international airport in the province become operational on this Friday—a new year gift to the Balochs. Quetta International Airport is already providing the facility for the local residence of connecting them with the rest of the globe. The operationalizing of New Gwadar Airport will open new horizon for the young people of the province to become part of this globe for getting business opportunities abroad and bringing back the hard-earned foreign exchange to support their families as well.
Inaugural of Gwadar International Airport
Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif virtually inaugurated the New Gwadar Airport last week. Pakistan Airport Authority along with other departments concerned told the premier that all the arrangements have been finalized to facilitate the passengers commuting between Gwadar to the other capitals of the world. Prime Minister in his address said, “The New Gwadar Airport is a gift from China for the people of Balochistan.”
While presiding over a meeting, the Prime Minister was informed that Pakistan Airport Authority has already issued the Aerodrome Certificate to the New Gwadar Airport, whereas, the Pakistan Customs has also notified the airport. Similarly, Pakistan Airport Authority through a NOTAM has stated that the flight operation from newly build New Gwadar Airport will start from Jan 15, 2025.
The meeting was also told that personnel of various departments such as Pakistan Airport Authority, Airport Security Force, Pakistan Customs, Anti-Narcotics Force (ASF), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Border Health Service have already been deputed at the airport.
The land has also been allocated for facilities of cold storage, warehouses, courier services, cargo shades, technical ground support gadgets, fuel farms, hotels and shopping malls at the airport, the meeting was informed. All the banks registered with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) were also in contact with regard to establishment of bank branches and ATM machines at the airport.
According PIAC—official flag carrier—has said that it will resume domestic flights from Karachi to Gwadar thrice a week but it has started its first flight from Gwadar to Muscat on Jan 17, 2025 and it will operate flight once a week.
According to Flightconnections.com, around 10 international operators will provide a connecting flight facility to international passengers for New Gawdar Airport. This will definitely adds more traffic to this newly build airport. According to estimated presented before the Prime Minister, nearly 4 million passengers will commute annually from and away to this new airport.
According to officials involved in operation of New Gwadar Airport, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will launch special inaugural flights from Karachi and Islamabad, with the Karachi flight operated by an ATR aircraft and the Islamabad flight by an Airbus 320. Both flights will receive a ceremonial water salute upon arrival. Federal Defense and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif will officiate the inaugural ceremony. The new airport has constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 55 billion, the airport is a critical project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Its state-of-the-art runway is designed to accommodate large aircraft such as the Airbus A380 in future as well.
