Skardu International Airport

Skardu International Airport (IATA: KDU, ICAO: OPSD) is an international civil 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
Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 737-300 at Skardu Airport (2008)
Summary
Airport typeCivilian/Military
OwnerGovernment of Pakistan
OperatorPakistan Civil Aviation Authority
ServesSkardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
LocationSkardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Hub for
Elevation AMSL7,316 ft / 2,230 m
Coordinates35°20′08″N 075°32′10″E
Maps

Location in Skardu
KDU/OPSD is located in Gilgit Baltistan
KDU/OPSD
KDU/OPSD
Location of Skardu International Airport
KDU/OPSD is located in Pakistan
KDU/OPSD
KDU/OPSD
KDU/OPSD (Pakistan)
KDU/OPSD is located in Asia
KDU/OPSD
KDU/OPSD
KDU/OPSD (Asia)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
14L/32R 11,944 3,641 Asphalt
14R/32L 11,944 3,641 Asphalt
Statistics (2017-18)
Passengers60,871
Passenger changeIncrease2%
Aircraft movements462

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.[1][2]

Runways
Skardu International Airport

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 and is currently used as an apron/taxiway.

Airlines and destinations

Skardu Airport is connected to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, through regular Pakistan International Airlines flights, as well as frequent flights to Lahore,[3] Multan,[4] Faisalabad,[5] Sialkot[6] and Karachi.[7]

Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320-200-214 taxing at Skardu Airport on 6 October 2015.
Pakistan International Airlines ATR 42-500 registration AP-BHO taxing at Skardu Airport on 21 October 2013. The aircraft in the picture later crashed near Havelian, Abbottabad District on 7 December 2016 as PIA Flight 661.
AirlinesDestinations
Airblue Islamabad
Pakistan International Airlines Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore

Flydubai has submitted a request to start international operations to and from Skardu airport, which would potentially become the first airline to start international routes from Skardu.[8][9]

Skardu, along with Gilgit, are the major tourism, trekking and expedition hubs in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It therefore attracts tourists from around the world.

See also

References
  1. "Govt announces to construct international airport in Skardu". ARY NEWS. 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  2. "PM Imran Khan inaugurates Skardu International Airport". The News International. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  3. Correspondent, The Newspaper's (2021-04-08). "First PIA flight from Lahore lands at Skardu Airport". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  4. News Desk (2021-07-18). "PIA to operate Multan to Skardu flight on 25 July". Pakistan Observer. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  5. "PIA announces direct flights between Faisalabad, Skardu". Profit by Pakistan Today. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  6. "PIA to start direct flights from Sialkot to Skardu from July 3". Daily Times. 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  7. Correspondent, The Newspaper's (2021-05-26). "PIA launches Karachi-Skardu flights". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  8. "Skardu Valley - A Wondrful Visiting Place in Pakistan".
  9. "Fly Dubai to start international flight to Skardu".
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