SKARDU: In a major milestone for regional aviation, Skardu Airport operated a record 14 flights in a single day, marking the highest number of flight operations in its history.
According to the Pakistan Airports Authority, a total of 16 flights were scheduled on Wednesday, out of which 14 domestic flights successfully landed and took off.
While Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) could not operate even a single flight to Chitral even for the mega Shandur festival, it operated four flights to Skardu on Wednesday, and AirBlue handled two.
A total of seven flights arrived from major cities including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, representing both national and private carriers.
In addition, seven outbound flights departed Skardu for the same cities, reflecting a sharp increase in air connectivity between Skardu and Pakistan’s major urban centers.
Officials from the Pakistan Airports Authority stated that the growing number of flights is a clear indicator of increased tourism activity and the opening of new economic opportunities in the region.
\”This level of air traffic is unprecedented for Skardu and highlights the region’s rising importance as a tourism and economic hub,\” said an official.
The surge in flight operations comes amid increasing demand from tourists seeking to explore the natural beauty of Gilgit-Baltistan during the summer season.