The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Pakistan recently granting night landing capability for Gwadar International Airport. The Gwadar Airport is Pakistan’s largest airport due to open in September 2023. The CAA issued a memo to all airlines and aviation companies for arrival and departure during night hours.
Although nighttime operations were approved, the CAA has prohibited overnight parking for commercial airlines and aviation companies at the airport. Only the military aircraft and those connected to the Balochistan government are allowed to park at the facility.
The new greenfield airport will replace the old Gwadar Airport and cater to both domestic and international flights. Although there will be passenger services, the new airport will mainly be used for cargo transport.
The airport has funds from Chinese government as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project; the Sultanate of Oman gave $17.5 million for the airport project. The $246 million facility is being built by a Chinese airport construction firm, Chinese Communication Construction Company (CCC), and will be operated and managed by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Administration (PCAA). The airport will be run under an “Open Skies” policy.
The airport will be able to accommodate the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747-8 and will be the second airport in Pakistan capable of handling the A380 after Islamabad International Airport (ISB).
The airport will play a major role in increasing trade between Pakistan and China.
