New Gwadar International Airport Launches First International Flight to Muscat

Marking a major milestone, the first international flight from the China-funded New Gwadar International Airport departed for Muscat on Friday, carrying 39 passengers. This comes just days after the airport commenced commercial operations following months of delays.

The airport’s inauguration had been pushed back due to a security review following militant attacks in Balochistan last August. Initially set to open on August 14, 2024, operations were further postponed to January 10 before finally launching earlier this week with the arrival of a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Karachi.

Pakistan anticipates that this $246-million, Chinese-backed project will grow into one of the country's largest airports, catering to both domestic and international flights.

"PIA has officially launched international flights from New Gwadar International Airport with a direct route to Muscat," the national carrier announced, adding that it will initially operate one flight per week to the Omani capital. The airline reaffirmed its commitment to expanding air operations across Pakistan in line with national aspirations and public demand.

Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office stated that the Gwadar airport is designed to accommodate A-380 aircraft and handle up to four million passengers annually. Future plans include the development of cold storage facilities, cargo terminals, hotels, and shopping centers, with banking services facilitated through the State Bank of Pakistan.

PIA has also announced an increase in Karachi-Gwadar flights to three times a week, while discussions continue with private airlines and carriers from China, Oman, and the UAE to introduce additional domestic and international routes.

China, which has committed over $65 billion in infrastructure and energy investments in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is also involved in developing a deep-water port near the new Gwadar airport. This joint venture between Pakistan, Oman, and China is nearing completion.

Although last year’s militant attacks in Balochistan did not target Chinese projects directly, China-backed developments in the region have been subject to repeated attacks by separatist groups who view foreign investments as exploitative. Rising security concerns, including a suicide bombing in Karachi last October that killed two Chinese workers, have led Beijing to push for stronger protective measures, though Pakistan has resisted calls for deploying Chinese security forces on its soil.