HP Newsroom 

The flight took off from Dubai at 4:15am with 79 passengers on board successfully landed at the Skardu International Airport after four hours and 30 minutes. The flight received a water canon welcome upon landing and passengers were presented flower bouquets from the airport staff.

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani termed the development “a historic moment”. In a statement, he said the commencement of international flights to Skardu would open up new possibilities for travel and connect the region with the rest of the world. “It’s a great step towards promoting tourism and enhancing the region’s connectivity,” he added.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to United Arab Emirates (UAE) Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, in a message, encouraged travelers to capture and share Pakistan’s beauty through visual stories and also praised the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the GB administration for their contributions to making “this historic flight a reality”.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said in a statement that it was a “momentous occasion” considering its “unique location 7,500 feet above sea level”. “This achievement marks a major breakthrough in improving airport travel accessibility for the region and will provide additional opportunities for travelers to visit this beautiful region and further strengthen the air connectivity between the two destinations. “The development would not only benefit tourists and travelers but also have a positive impact on the local economy,” it said.

The Skardu Airport is the only one in northern Pakistan that can accommodate larger airplanes, as the runways at both Gilgit and Chitral airports are too short for long-haul flights to land there.