Skardu International Airport

Skardu International Airport

سکردو بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا
Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 737-300 at Skardu Airport (2008)
Summary
Airport typeCivilian/military
OwnerGovernment of Pakistan
OperatorPakistan Civil Aviation Authority
ServesSkardu
LocationSkardu-16100, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Hub for
Elevation AMSL7,316 ft / 2,230 m
Coordinates35°20′08″N 075°32′10″E / 35.33556°N 75.53611°E / 35.33556; 75.53611
Maps
Map
Location in Skardu
KDU/OPSD is located in Gilgit Baltistan
KDU/OPSD
KDU/OPSD
Location of Skardu International Airport
KDU/OPSD is located in Pakistan
KDU/OPSD
KDU/OPSD
KDU/OPSD (Pakistan)
KDU/OPSD is located in Asia
KDU/OPSD
KDU/OPSD
KDU/OPSD (Asia)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
14L/32R 11,944 3,641 Asphalt
14R/32L 11,944 3,641 Asphalt
Statistics (July 2021 - June 2022)
Passengers127,124
Passenger changeIncrease47.5%
Aircraft movements986

Skardu International Airport (IATA: KDU, ICAO: OPSD) is an international airport in Skardu, in the Pakistani territory of Gilgit-Baltistan. It also serves as a forward operating base of the Pakistan Air Force.

History

Skardu Airport was initially built as an airbase in 1949, following Pakistan's independence and served as an airfield for the Pakistan Air Force in the Northern Areas.[1] It was converted into a domestic airport for civilian use, alongside military use. On 2 December 2021, Skardu Airport was designated and re-inaugurated as an international airport after providing upgrades to the airport to become a tourism hub for Gilgit-Baltistan.[2][3]

Runways

Skardu International Airport

Skardu Airport has two asphalt runways, both 11,944 ft (3,641 m) long, while a third 8,740 ft (2,664 m) long asphalt runway, Runway 15/33, was de-commissioned in December 2021.

Airlines and destinations

Skardu Airport is connected to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, through regular Pakistan International Airlines flights, as well as frequent flights to Lahore,[4] Multan,[5] Faisalabad,[6] Sialkot[7] and Karachi.[8]

Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320-200-214 taxiing at Skardu Airport on 6 October 2015
Pakistan International Airlines ATR 42-500 registration AP-BHO taxiing at Skardu Airport on 21 October 2013. The aircraft in the picture later crashed near Havelian, Abbottabad District on 7 December 2016 as PIA Flight 661

Flydubai has submitted a request to start international operations to and from Skardu Airport, which would potentially become the first foreign airline to start international routes from Skardu.[9][10]

On 14 August 2023, the first international flight operated by Pakistan International Airlines from Dubai landed at the airport, marking a major step towards promoting tourism in the region.[11]

AirlinesDestinations
airblue Islamabad, Lahore (begins 30 March 2025)[12]
Pakistan International Airlines Dubai–International,[13] Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore
Skardu, along with Gilgit, are the major tourism, trekking and expedition hubs in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It therefore attracts tourists from around the world.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gilgit Airport". PCAA | Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Govt announces to construct international airport in Skardu". ARY NEWS. 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  3. ^ "PM Imran Khan inaugurates Skardu International Airport". The News International. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  4. ^ Correspondent, The Newspaper's (2021-04-08). "First PIA flight from Lahore lands at Skardu Airport". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-07-24. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ News Desk (2021-07-18). "PIA to operate Multan to Skardu flight on 25 July". Pakistan Observer. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  6. ^ "PIA announces direct flights between Faisalabad, Skardu". Profit by Pakistan Today. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  7. ^ "PIA to start direct flights from Sialkot and an international flight from Dubai to Skardu from July 3". Daily Times. 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  8. ^ Correspondent, The Newspaper's (2021-05-26). "PIA launches Karachi-Skardu flights". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-07-24. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ "Flydubai wants to operate flights to Skardu | SAMAA".
  10. ^ "Fly Dubai to start international flight to Skardu".
  11. ^ "First international flight from Dubai lands at Skardu airport". Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  12. ^ "Airblue Plans Lahore – Skardu Service in NS25". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  13. ^ "PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL ADDS SKARDU – DUBAI FLIGHT IN MID-AUGUST 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
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