First international flight from Dubai lands at Skardu airport

The first international flight from Dubai with 80 passengers onboard landed at Skardu airport on Monday in what is called a “historic moment”.

The PK-234 flight took off from Dubai at 4:15am and landed at the Skardu International Airport after four hours and 30 minutes.

Upon landing, the flight was given a water cannon welcome. The passengers were presented flowers.

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani termed the development “historic moment”. In a statement, he said the commencement of international flights to Skardu would open up new possibilities for travel and connect the region with the rest of the world.

“It’s a great step towards promoting tourism and enhancing the region’s connectivity,” he added.

Separately, Pakistan’s Ambassador to United Arab Emirates (UAE) Faisal Niaz Tirmizi expressed joy as the first international flight to Skardu took off from Dubai on Aug 14, Pakistan’s 77th Independence Day.

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

It had been declared ‘international’ by former prime minister Imran Khan in December 2021, but international flights could not be operated to and from the airport due to the unavailability of an adequate re-fuelling facility.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the airport’s initial international flight operation would be conducted under the Visual Flight Rules (VFR) only. Under the VFR, an aircraft is intended to operate in visual meteorological conditions (i.e. nice and clear weather). Clouds, heavy precipitation, low visibility and other adverse weather conditions should be avoided under the VFR, as per the ATP Flight School. – our report and news agencies