New Gwadar International Airport

Not to be confused with Gwadar International Airport.
New Gwadar International Airport
نیو گوادر بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGoP Aviation Division
OperatorPakistan Airports Authority
ServesGwadar
LocationGwadar, Balochistan, Pakistan
Opened14 October 2024; 16 months ago (2024-10-14)
Built2019-2024
Elevation AMSL64 ft / 19.5 m
Coordinates25°17′48″N 62°29′55″E / 25.29667°N 62.49861°E / 25.29667; 62.49861
Websitepaa.gov.pk/airport/gwadar
Map
Interactive map of New Gwadar International Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
07/25 12,000 3,658 Concrete
Sources: PAA AIP[1]

New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) is an airport in Gwadar, Pakistan.[2] It is the largest airport in Pakistan by area,[3] occupying 4,300 acres (17 km2) of land, and the second greenfield airport of Pakistan after Islamabad International Airport. The GIA is located in Gorandani, 26 kilometres (16 mi) north-east of the old airport in Gwadar on the south-western Arabian Sea coast of Balochistan Province. GIA is expected to cost $246 million. It is mainly funded by China as a grant and was formally inaugurated on 14 October 2024 by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Premier of China Li Qiang. The airport began commercial operations and received its first inaugural flight on 20 January 2025, thereby replacing the old airport.[4] With a runway spanning 3,658 m (12,001 ft) in length and 45 m (148 ft) in width, GIA is capable of accommodating the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8.[3][5][6]

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) is responsible for overseeing its management and operation, and its ownership will be shared among a collaborative effort involving Pakistan, Oman, and China. This airport is designed to facilitate both domestic and international flights.[7] As of February 2025, the airport operates five flights per week.[8]

History

The airport project was launched as a swiftly achievable, high-priority initiative within the CPEC programme in 2014.[9] Former PM Imran Khan had laid the foundation of GIA on 29 March 2019.[10][11] This greenfield airport will include a modern terminal building alongside a cargo terminal, with refrigeration facilities for perishable items, with an initial handling capacity of 30,000 tonnes a year. GIA will have the capacity to accommodate wide-body aircraft including Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 and narrow-body aircraft such as ATR-72 and Boeing 737-900ER.[12][13][14]

On 1 August 2023, the National Assembly of Pakistan adopted a resolution to change the name of the New Gwadar International Airport to honor Pakistan's 7th prime minister, Feroz Khan Noon. The initiative was put forth by Aliya Kamran, Rana Qasim Noon, and Sabir Hussain Qaimkhani during the assembly session. Additionally, the assembly approved another resolution urging the government to rename the Gwadar International Airport in tribute to Feroz Khan Noon. This decision was rooted in recognising his instrumental role in securing Gwadar for Pakistan through an agreement with the Sultanate of Oman during his tenure as Prime Minister.[15]

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority awarded the design to build contract of the new airport to the China Communications Construction Company (CCC).[16] The airport was opened on 14 October 2024 in a ceremony led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.[17] The opening was however initially planned for 14 August 2024, to coincide with the Pakistani Independence Day celebrations, but was delayed due to protests organized by the BYC.[18]

The airport's first international flight took place on 10 January 2025, with a flight to Muscat, the capital of Oman.[19] The initial plan for the flight was to happen on 1 January 2025, but was delayed because of BLA activity.[18] The airport became fully operational on 20 January.[20] In Late January 2025, the first Airbus aircraft, an Airbus A319, registered as A6-RRJ, operated by Rotana Jet and as a special flight by the UAE, landed at the airport's runway 25.

On 3 December 2025, the Pakistan Airports Authority began construction of a modern air-cargo building at the airport to manage containerised and oversized cargo.[21][22]

Runway

The airport has a single runway with a length of 3,658 m (12,001 ft) and a width of 45 m (148 ft) that will have the capacity to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft. There will be a taxiway 23 m (75 ft) in length alongside 10.5 m (34 ft) paved shoulders for both sides.[23]

Construction

The airport under construction in 2022.

The New Gwadar International Airport was constructed at a cost of Rs. 55.4 billion, funded mainly (67%) as a grant by China, with participation from Pakistan and Oman as well.[24]

Airlines and destinations

As of August 2025, the airport only has a twice weekly service to Karachi. However, sometimes there are charter flights to Dubai by Rotana Jet.

Airlines Destinations Sources
Pakistan International Airlines Karachi [1]
Rotana Jet Charter: Dubai-World Central [2]


References

  1. ^ "eAIP-Aerodomes-New Gwadar Intl'". Pakistan Airports Authority Website.
  2. ^ "Chinese President Xi to Inaugurate Gwadar Airport". Yes Property Force. 30 January 2023. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b "1st int'l flight from Gwadar on Jan 10". The Express Tribune. 2024-12-31. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  4. ^ Ali, Imtiaz (2025-01-20). "New Gwadar airport starts operations with landing of first PIA flight". Dawn. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  5. ^ Weiwei, Xu. "New Gwadar airport a symbol of friendship". China Daily. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  6. ^ "China-aided airport to enhance connectivity, spur economic growth in Pakistan's Gwadar". Xinhua. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  7. ^ "1. Gwadar International Airport (GIA)". Ministry of Aviation, Government of Pakistan.
  8. ^ "New Gwadar Int'l Airport expands weekly flight operations as demand grows". Pakistan Today. 2025-02-25. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  9. ^ "New Gwadar international Air port to be operational by 2023". Daily Times. 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  10. ^ "Prime Minister Open Work On New Gawadar Airport". UrduPoint. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  11. ^ "Pakistan's Gwadar International Airport will be the largest in the country". gulfnews.com. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  12. ^ "Development of Gwadar will benefit entire world: PM". www.radio.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 2019-04-21. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  13. ^ "New Gwadar International Airport | China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Official Website". cpec.gov.pk. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  14. ^ Zafar, Mohammad (2019-03-29). "Imran launches work on mega projects in Balochistan". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  15. ^ "NA passes resolution to rename Gwadar International Airport after Feroz Khan Noon". August 2023.
  16. ^ "New Gwadar International Airport". cpec.gov.pk. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  17. ^ "China's premier inaugurates a Beijing-funded airport at the start of a Pakistan trip". Associated Press. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Pakistan delays opening of New Gwadar International Airport for third time due to security threats". The Economic Times. 8 January 2025.
  19. ^ "State-run Pakistan International Airlines resumes direct flights to Europe after EU lifts ban". AP News. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  20. ^ "Pakistan's largest airport becomes operational, part of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative". AP News. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  21. ^ "Construction of air-cargo building begins at New Gwadar International Airport". Independent News Pakistan. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  22. ^ Desk, News (2025-12-03). "Gwadar Airport Air-Cargo Facility Construction". The Daily CPEC. Retrieved 2025-12-31. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  23. ^ "Prime Minister performed groundbreaking of New Gwadar International Airport" (PDF). Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. 29 March 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  24. ^ Rana, Shahbaz (2020-10-12). "Gwadar International Airport project okayed". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwadar_Airport