RAWALPINDI / GILGIT: A Pakistan International Airlines flight, with 79 people on board, landed at the Skardu airport on Monday, making it the first-ever international flight to touch down at the airport.

PIA’s flight PK234 from Dubai landed at 8:33am after taking off at 4:15am (Dubai time). The aircraft was presented with a traditional water cannon salute as the captain hoisted national flags from cockpit windows while approaching the terminal.

The passengers were greeted by PIA Chief Executive Officer retired air vice marshal Amir Hayat, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCA­A) additional DG and other officials. Later, in a ceremony, the passengers were presented with the traditional cap of GB and gifts.

A PIA spokesperson said tourism in GB will witness a boom with the launch of international flights to Skardu.

PIA’s weekly flights from Dubai to Skardu will play an important role in promoting tourism in the country’s northern regions, said the spokesperson.

“This achievement marks a major breakthrough in improving air travel and accessibility to the region.”

In a statement, GB Chief Secretary Mohyu­ddin Ahmed Wani said this was a “historic moment”.

“The commencement of international flights to Skardu will open up new possibilities for travel and connect the region with the rest of the world.”

Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, said the flight “marks a significant step towards promoting tourism and strengthening international connections”,

The airport, located at 7,500 feet above sea level, was given the status of an international airport by former prime minister Imran Khan in December 2021. However, international flights could not be operated to and from the airport due to unavailability of an adequate re-fuelling facility.

Last week, the PCAA inaugurated the refuelling facility at the airport, paving the way for the first international flight to land there.

The Skardu airport is the only one in northern Pakistan that can accommodate large aircraft, as the runways at both Gilgit and Chitral airports are too short for long-haul flights to land and take off.

According to the CAA, the airport’s initial international flight operations would be conducted under the Visual Flight Rules (VFR) only. The VFR is a set of rules under which a pilot operates an aircraft when the weather is clear, and there are no extreme conditions like clouds and rain.

The airport witnessed a frenzy of activity last month as local and foreign tourists arrived in the mountainous region to explore its beauty and take part in adventure sports. On July 20, around 12 Airbus A-320 flights succes­s­f­ully arrived and left Skardu, the highest single-day tally at the airport.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2023