Gilgit Airport

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Gilgit Airport
گلگت ہوائی اڈا
Gilgit Airport in 2015.
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerPakistan GoP Aviation Division
OperatorPakistan Airports Authority
ServesGilgit-15100
LocationGilgit District, Gilgit Division, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan
Elevation AMSL4,796 ft / 1,462 m
Coordinates35°55′07″N 74°20′01″E / 35.91861°N 74.33361°E / 35.91861; 74.33361
Websitepaa.gov.pk
Map
OPGT is located in Gilgit Baltistan
OPGT
OPGT
Location of airport in Pakistan
Show map of Gilgit Baltistan
OPGT is located in Pakistan
OPGT
OPGT
OPGT (Pakistan)
Show map of Pakistan
OPGT is located in South Asia
OPGT
OPGT
OPGT (South Asia)
Show map of South Asia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
07/25 5,400 1,646 Bitumen
Statistics (July 2024 – June 2025)
Passengers31,230 Decrease 12.15%
Aircraft movements827 Decrease21.53%
Cargo14 metric tons Increase180%
Source: Statistics from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority[1]

Gilgit Airport (IATA: GIL, ICAO: OPGT) is a small domestic airport situated 1.25 nm (2.3 km) east of Gilgit,[2] a city in the Gilgit-Baltistan territory of Pakistan. The city of Gilgit is one of the two major hubs for mountaineering expeditions in the northern areas of Pakistan.

Structure

Gilgit Airport in December 2015
ATR 42-500 at Gilgit Airport in July 2016

Because of the location of the runway in the Gilgit valley, larger aircraft can not operate at the airport. The airport has a 5,400ft long runway 07/25 but it is not aligned with the length of the valley that makes it hard for take offs or landings from both sides. Very rarely aircraft land or take from the CAA park side of the runway. Pakistan International Airlines currently operates ATR 42 aircraft on the Gilgit-Islamabad route. In the past, Fokker F-27 Friendships were used. Other aircraft that operate at the airport include the military Lockheed C-130 Hercules. In the event of a diversion or aborted landing due to bad weather, inbound aircraft typically return to Islamabad, so care must be taken to carry enough fuel for the round trip.

A new terminal was constructed in 2014 and inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.[3]

The airport was planned to be twice as extensive, but waterlogged ground led to half the allocated land being used for a public park, CAA Park or City Park Gilgit.

History

Gilgit historically received aircraft before partition of the Indian subcontinent. Even today almost the same route is used by the pilots to reach Gilgit airport. Weather condition and good visibility is a must for Gilgit-Islamabad flight operations.[4]

The airport was originally constructed in 1949, It was later upgraded in 1958 with pavement.

Airlines and destinations

Due to the small size of the airport, smaller aircraft mostly turboprops like ATR-42 and C-130 are able to safely land and take off from this airport. Flights are scheduled mostly from Islamabad. However, in 2022, PIA started flights from Karachi and Lahore through a stopover at Islamabad.[5]

AirlinesDestinations
Pakistan International Airlines Islamabad
View from Barmus Valley

Accidents

The plane involved in the incident in 2019
PIA Flight PK 605 Registration AP-BHP involved in the accident at Gilgit Airport. The aircraft has been written off.
  • On August 25, 1989, Pakistan International Airlines Flight 404, a Fokker F27 carrying 54 people, disappeared after leaving Gilgit. The wreckage has not been found.[6]
  • On July 20, 2019, Pakistan International Airlines Flight 605, an ATR carrying 53 people, skidded off the runway and came to rest on the grass. All the passengers were evacuated safely, but the plane was damaged.[7]

See also

References

  1. "Airport Statistics" (PDF). Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  2. "OPGT – Gilgit". www.eais.com.pk. Executive Air International Services. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  3. "Gilgit gets new airport building". Greater Kashmir. 6 December 2014. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  4. Astin, Robert (7 March 2017). "Flying over the Himalayas: RAF Flight to Gilgit in November 1934". blogs.bl.uk.
  5. "PIA to resume Gilgit, Skardu flights on Mar 3". Dawn. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  6. Ranter, Harro (25 August 1989). "Accident Fokker F-27 Friendship 200 AP-BBF". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  7. "PIA plane escapes accident at Gilgit airport". Pakistan Today. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2026.