Skardu Airport

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Skardu International Airport
سکردو بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا
Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 737-300 at Skardu Airport in 2008
Summary
Airport typeJoint-use airport
OwnerPakistan 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 is located in Gilgit Baltistan
OPSD
OPSD
Location of airport in Pakistan
Show map of Gilgit Baltistan
OPSD is located in Pakistan
OPSD
OPSD
OPSD (Pakistan)
Show map of Pakistan
OPSD is located in South Asia
OPSD
OPSD
OPSD (South Asia)
Show map of 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 Increase 22.53%
Aircraft movements1,228 Increase 16.50%
Cargo243 metric tons Increase 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) which shares the main runway with the airport.

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.[4] 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.[5][6]

It was reported in June 2025 that the government had initiated a project for Rs. 180 million (equivalent to Rs. 920 million or US$3.3 million in 2021) upgrade of Skardu International Airport, to improve air connectivity and support economic development in Gilgit-Baltistan.[7]

Runways

Skardu International Airport

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

For an extended period, the airport handled only one or two flights. Following its designation as an international airport, flight operations reportedly increased to approximately eight to ten flights.[8] The airport Skardu Airport is connected to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, through regular Pakistan International Airlines flights, as well as through flights to Lahore,[9] Multan,[10] Faisalabad,[11] Sialkot[12] and Karachi.[13]

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.[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]

AirlinesDestinations
Airblue Islamabad, Lahore[16]
Pakistan International Airlines Dubai–International,[17] Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore
AirSialIslamabad[18]

Statistics

Annual traffic statistics at Skardu[19]
Year Passengers handled[a]
Numbers % change
2020 15,486
2021 344,385 Increase2223.84
2022 317,764 Decrease7.73
2023 244,118 Decrease23.18
2024 369,733 Increase51.45

See also

Notes

  1. Number of passengers including domestic, international

References

  1. "Airport Statistics" (PDF). Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  2. "KDU Flight Data". Sky Scanner. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  3. "Major Traffic Flows by Airports During the Year 2023–2024" (PDF). Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 June 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  4. "Gilgit Airport". Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  5. "Govt announces to construct international airport in Skardu". ARY News. 6 July 2021. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  6. "PM Imran Khan inaugurates Skardu International Airport". The News International. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  7. "Government begins Rs180 million upgrade of Skardu International Airport". Profit by Pakistan Today. 20 June 2025. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  8. "Gilgit-Baltistan Reforms 2009: A Discourse Analysis". PIDE Thesis. Archived from the original on 26 March 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  9. "First PIA flight from Lahore lands at Skardu Airport". Dawn. 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  10. "PIA to operate Multan to Skardu flight on 25 July". Pakistan Observer. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  11. "PIA announces direct flights between Faisalabad, Skardu". Profit by Pakistan Today. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  12. "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.
  13. "PIA launches Karachi-Skardu flights". Dawn. 26 May 2021. Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  14. "Flydubai wants to operate flights to Skardu". SAMAA. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  15. "First international flight from Dubai lands at Skardu airport". Dawn. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. 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. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  18. Khattak, Arsalan (12 May 2026). "Private Airline Announces Flights to Skardu". ProPakistani. Archived from the original on 12 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  19. Zahra, Sabira; Khan, Zeeshan; Zaheer, Kashif (2025). "Climate Change and Its Impact on Communities and the Environment: Policy Challenges in Gilgit-Baltistan". Research Journal for Social Affairs. 3 (6): 1715–1722. doi:10.71317/RJSA.003.06.0673. ISSN 3006-5240.