Skardu International Airport

Skardu International Airport (IATA: KDU, ICAO: OPSD) is an international airport located on the outskirts of Skardu 9.2 km (5.7 mi) from the city center and serves the Skardu District. It is the busiest airport in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region. ^[3][4]

Skardu International Airport سکردو بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا
Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 737-300 at Skardu Airport in 2008
IATA: KDU ICAO: OPSD
Summary
Airport type	Joint-use airport
Owner	GoP Aviation Division
Operator	Pakistan Airports Authority
Serves	Skardu-16100
Location	Skardu District, Baltistan Division, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan
Hub for	Pakistan International Airlines
Elevation AMSL	7,301 ft / 2,225 m
Coordinates	35°20′22″N 75°32′29″E
Website	paa.gov.pk
Maps
Location in Skardu
OPSD Location of airport in Pakistan Show map of Gilgit Baltistan OPSD OPSD (Pakistan) Show map of Pakistan OPSD OPSD (South Asia) Show map of South Asia
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 14L/32R 11,995 3,656 Bitumen 14R/32L 11,995 3,656 Bitumen 1̶3̶/3̶3̶ 8̶5̶0̶0̶ 2̶5̶9̶0̶ B̶i̶t̶u̶m̶e̶n̶
Statistics (2023-24 [1])
Passengers 146,449 Aircraft movements 1,054 Cargo 131 t (131,000 kg)
Sources: PAA AIP[2]

It is adjacent to Qadri airbase, a Pakistan Air Force FOB base which shares the main runway with the airport.

In June 2025, the government was reportedly moving towards a Rs 180 million upgrade of Skardu International Airport.^[5]

History

Skardu Airport was initially built as an airbase in 1949, following Pakistan's independence and served as an airfield for the Pakistan Air Force in the Northern Areas.^[6] It was converted into a domestic airport for civilian use, alongside military use. On 2 December 2021, Skardu Airport was designated and re-inaugurated as an international airport after providing upgrades to the airport to become a tourism hub for Gilgit-Baltistan.^[7][8]

Runways

Skardu International Airport

Skardu Airport has two asphalt runways, both 11,944 ft (3,641 m) long, while a third 8,740 ft (2,664 m) long asphalt runway, Runway 15/33, was de-commissioned in December 2021.

Airlines and destinations

Skardu Airport is connected to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, through regular Pakistan International Airlines flights, as well as frequent flights to Lahore,^[9] Multan,^[10] Faisalabad,^[11] Sialkot^[12] and Karachi.^[13]

Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320-200-214 at Skardu Airport on 6 October 2015

Pakistan International Airlines ATR 42-500 registration AP-BHO taxiing at Skardu Airport on 21 October 2013.

Flydubai has submitted a request to start international operations to and from Skardu Airport, which could potentially become the first foreign airline to start international flights from Skardu.^[14][15]

On 14 August 2023, the first international flight operated by Pakistan International Airlines from Dubai landed at the airport, marking a major step towards promoting tourism in the region.^[16]

It was reported in June 2025 that the government had initiated a project for Rs 180 million upgrade of Skardu International Airport, to improve air connectivity and support economic development in Gilgit-Baltistan.^[5]

Airlines	Destinations
Airblue	Islamabad, Lahore[17]
Pakistan International Airlines	Dubai–International,[18] Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore

Skardu, along with Gilgit, are the major tourism, trekking and expedition hubs in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, attracting tourists from around the world.

See also

• List of airports in Pakistan
• Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
• Gilgit Airport
• Airlines of Pakistan
• Chilas Airfield