Skardu International Airport

Skardu International Airport
سکردو بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا
Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 737-300 at Skardu Airport in 2008
Summary
Airport typeJoint-use airport
Owner GoP Aviation Division
OperatorPakistan Airports Authority
ServesSkardu-16100
LocationSkardu District, Baltistan Division, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan
Hub forPakistan International Airlines
Elevation AMSL7,301 ft / 2,225 m
Coordinates35°20′22″N 75°32′29″E / 35.33944°N 75.54139°E / 35.33944; 75.54139
Websitepaa.gov.pk
Maps
OPSD
Location of airport in Pakistan
OPSD
OPSD (Pakistan)
OPSD
OPSD (South Asia)
Location in Skardu
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
14L/32R 11,995 3,656 Bitumen
14R/32L 11,995 3,656 Bitumen
1̶3̶/3̶3̶ 8̶5̶0̶0̶ 2̶5̶9̶0̶ B̶i̶t̶u̶m̶e̶n̶
Statistics (July 2024 – June 2025)
Passengers179,454 22.53%
Aircraft movements1,228 16.50%
Cargo243 metric tons 46.09%
Source: Statistics from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority[1]

Skardu International Airport (IATA: KDU, ICAO: OPSD) is an international airport located on the outskirts of Skardu 9.2 km (5.7 mi) from the city center, and serves the Skardu District. It is the busiest airport in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region.[2][3] It is adjacent to Qadri airbase, a Pakistan Air Force FOB base which shares the main runway with the airport.

In June 2025, the government was reportedly moving towards a Rs 180 million upgrade of Skardu International Airport.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6][7]

Runways

Skardu Airport has two asphalt runways, both 11,944 ft (3,641 m) long. 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 through flights to Lahore,[8] Multan,[9] Faisalabad,[10] Sialkot[11] and Karachi.[12]

Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320-200-214 at Skardu Airport on 6 October 2015
Pakistan International Airlines ATR 42-500 registration AP-BHO taxiing at Skardu Airport on 21 October 2013.

Flydubai has submitted a request to start international operations to and from Skardu Airport, which could potentially become the first foreign airline to start international flights from Skardu.[13][14] 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.[15]

It was reported in June 2025 that the government had initiated a project for Rs 180 million upgrade of Skardu International Airport, to improve air connectivity and support economic development in Gilgit-Baltistan.[4]

AirlinesDestinations
Airblue Islamabad, Lahore[16]
Pakistan International Airlines Dubai–International,[17] Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore

See also

References

  1. ^ "Airport Statistics" (PDF). Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  2. ^ "KDU Flight Data". Sky Scanner.
  3. ^ "MAJOR TRAFFIC FLOWS BY AIRPORTS DURING THE YEAR 2023–2024" (PDF). Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.
  4. ^ a b "Government begins Rs180 million upgrade of Skardu International Airport". Profit by Pakistan Today. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Gilgit Airport". PCAA | Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Govt announces to construct international airport in Skardu". ARY News. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  7. ^ "PM Imran Khan inaugurates Skardu International Airport". The News International. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  8. ^ "First PIA flight from Lahore lands at Skardu Airport". Dawn. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  9. ^ "PIA to operate Multan to Skardu flight on 25 July". Pakistan Observer. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  10. ^ "PIA announces direct flights between Faisalabad, Skardu". Profit by Pakistan Today. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  11. ^ "PIA to start direct flights from Sialkot and an international flight from Dubai to Skardu from July 3". Daily Times. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  12. ^ "PIA launches Karachi-Skardu flights". Dawn. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Flydubai wants to operate flights to Skardu | SAMAA".
  14. ^ "Fly Dubai to start international flight to Skardu".
  15. ^ "First international flight from Dubai lands at Skardu airport". Dawn. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Airblue Plans Lahore – Skardu Service in NS25". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  17. ^ "PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL ADDS SKARDU – DUBAI FLIGHT IN MID-AUGUST 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Skardu Airport.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.