Night landing operation launched at Gwadar International Airport

KARACHI: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Sunday launched a landing operation for flights during night hours at the Gwadar International Airport. In this regard, the CAA has issued directives to airlines and aviation companies, saying that overnight parking at the Gwadar airport will not be allowed. “Only military aircraft and those belonging to the Balochistan government will be allowed to park at night at the Gwadar International Airport,” it said.

The country’s largest airport — New Gwadar International Airport — is located in Gurandani, which is 26km east of Gwadar city. It is the first airport in Balochistan that has allowed night landings. The airport welcomes local and international flights to the port city.

The project was financed through the Chinese government’s grant under the multibillion-dollar China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, and its cost was estimated at $230 million.

According to the CPEC website, the airport’s construction created 3,000 jobs. The groundbreaking ceremony of the airport was held on March 29, 2019, by then-prime minister Imran Khan.

Implementation of the project was handed over to the Aviation Division.

Meanwhile, its construction work began on October 31, 2019. As per the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor portal, the expected completion date of the project was March 2023. “Construction of New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), along with allied facilities for a new airport that will be capable of handling a combination of ATR 72, Airbus, (A-300), Boeing (B-737), and Boeing (B-747) for domestic as well international routes,” the website mentions regarding the much-anticipated facility.