Skardu International Airport

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.

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, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Hub for
Elevation AMSL7,316 ft / 2,230 m
Coordinates35°20′08″N 075°32′10″E
Maps

Location in Skardu
KDU/OPSD
Location of Skardu International Airport
KDU/OPSD
KDU/OPSD (Pakistan)
KDU/OPSD
KDU/OPSD (Asia)
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 change47.5%
Aircraft movements986

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 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
Pakistan International Airlines Dubai–International,[12] Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore

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.
  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.
  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. "PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL ADDS SKARDU – DUBAI FLIGHT IN MID-AUGUST 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
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