Gilgit Airport


Gilgit Airport is a small domestic airport situated 1.25 nm east of Gilgit, a city in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. The city of Gilgit is one of the two major hubs for all mountaineering expeditions in the northern areas of Pakistan.

Structure

Because of its short runway located at the edge of a slope, Boeing 737s and similar-sized jet aircraft cannot operate at Gilgit Airport. However, with the development of jets with proven short field performance, it could be possible to reconsider jetliner service. Pakistan International Airlines operates ATR 42 aircraft on the Gilgit-Islamabad route. Other aircraft that operate at the airport include the military Lockheed C-130 Hercules.
In the past, Fokker F-27 Friendship was being used but later it was replaced by ATR 42.
A new terminal was constructed in 2014 which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. This terminal included modern check-in facilities as well as different arrival and departure sections.
This airport when planned, composed of the land twice as big as it is now. But due to excessive water leakage from the ground, the land was used to create a public park in the vicinity of this airport. The park was named as CAA Park or City Park Gilgit. The leakage was caused due to excessive bombings on this area during the war period.

Airlines and destinations

Accidents