The first international flight to arrive at the Skardu airport was an aircraft carrying 80 people from Dubai on Monday.
First international flight lands at Skardu: At 8:15 a.m., flight PK234 arrived at Skardu airport after leaving Dubai International Airport.
PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat, along with senior civil aviation officials and various political, social, and governmental personalities, hosted a modest yet impressive ceremony to welcome the passengers at Skardu Airport.
Passengers received traditional hats and presents from Gilgit-Baltistan. The airport staff saluted the aeroplane with a water cannon upon its arrival as well. To celebrate Independence Day, the captain rolled down the cockpit window and raised the flag.
It’s “history in the making!” In the words of the tweet, “First international flight to Skardu landing safely is indeed a historic moment.”
“It connects Skardu to the rest of the world and creates new travel opportunities. It’s a fantastic step towards encouraging tourism and improving connectivity in the area,” the statement continued.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the country’s flag airline, shared the good news on social media. They also posted pictures of the passengers being welcomed with open arms.
The tweet described the dramatic events that took place in Skardu as the historic first international flight touched down on the tarmac, marshalled to a water cannon salute and the captain waving the national flag from the cockpit window.
It said, “Skardu is now open to the world!”
Particularly noteworthy is that visitors will now be able to marvel at stunning vistas of Gilgit-Baltistan and its snow-capped Himalayan mountains.
The weekly flights operated by PIA from Dubai to Skardu would be crucial in fostering tourism in Pakistan’s northern areas.
From Dubai, tourists will now be able to fly directly for three and a half hours to Skardu.