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 | |||||||||||||||
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 Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 737-300 at Skardu Airport (2008) | |||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Civilian/military | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Pakistan | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority | ||||||||||||||
| Serves | Skardu | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan | ||||||||||||||
| Hub for | |||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 7,316 ft / 2,230 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°20′08″N 075°32′10″E / 35.33556°N 75.53611°E | ||||||||||||||
| Maps | |||||||||||||||
 Location in Skardu | |||||||||||||||
  KDU/OPSD Location of Skardu International Airport  KDU/OPSD KDU/OPSD (Pakistan)  KDU/OPSD KDU/OPSD (Asia) | |||||||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (July 2021 - June 2022) | |||||||||||||||
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History
editSkardu 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
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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
editSkardu 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]
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]
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| airblue | Islamabad |
| Pakistan International Airlines | Dubai–International,[12] Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Gilgit Airport". PCAA | Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Govt announces to construct international airport in Skardu". ARY NEWS. 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
- ^ "PM Imran Khan inaugurates Skardu International Airport". The News International. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
- ^ 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) - ^ News Desk (2021-07-18). "PIA to operate Multan to Skardu flight on 25 July". Pakistan Observer. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
- ^ "PIA announces direct flights between Faisalabad, Skardu". Profit by Pakistan Today. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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) - ^ "Flydubai wants to operate flights to Skardu | SAMAA".
- ^ "Fly Dubai to start international flight to Skardu".
- ^ "First international flight from Dubai lands at Skardu airport". Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL ADDS SKARDU – DUBAI FLIGHT IN MID-AUGUST 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
External links
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