A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight landed at the Gwadar International Airport, making it the first commercial aircraft to arrive at the new airport after its inauguration on Monday.

An official of the Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) said in a statement that the first commercial flight, PK-503, had landed at the airport at 11:15am.

The statement read that the flight departed from Karachi at 9:50am and “touched down at the state-of-the-art Gwadar facility at 11:15 AM, carrying 46 passengers”.

Meanwhile, Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, along with Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, welcomed the passengers.

“Addressing the gathering, Minister Khawaja Asif emphasised the strategic importance of the New Gwadar International Airport in driving economic growth, fostering regional tourism, and strengthening international connectivity,” the statement read.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti walks alongside other guests at the New Gwadar International Airport — Photo by Abdullah Zehri
The defence and aviation minister also distributed certificates and shields to guests “for their contributions to the airport’s success”.

The statement emphasised that the new airport is poised to play a critical role in “connecting Pakistan to global markets and facilitating trade, tourism, and economic development”.

Furthermore, the inaugural flight was also greeted with a water salute.

Covering about 4,300 acres of land, the airport has the annual capacity of 400,000 passengers, according to Radio Pakistan. Additionally, its 3.6 kilometres long runway is capable of accomodating aircrafts such as Boeing 747 and Airbus A380.

It also includes advanced air traffic control systems, navigational aids, and advanced security features.

Previously, the New Gwadar International Airport, developed with a $230 million grant by China, had remained largely inactive due to the failure of aviation and port authorities to market the facility internationally or engage consultants for its commercialisation.