After the tourist flow increased in Gilgit Baltistan during the last couple of years, private airlines have also geared up to start flights for Skardu and operate on the routes to the northern areas of the country.
Private Airlines may commence direct flights for Skardu by the mid of next month during the growing demand from national tourists who wish to visit scenic Gilgit Baltistan (GB) amid the ongoing tourism season.
Airblue, a private airline, for the first time, has successfully run a test flight from Islamabad to Skardu on Thursday. As per the sources at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after the successful test flight, Airblue may start routine flights by July 20, 2022.
“InshaAllah, the private airline will be starting routine flights to Skardu very soon,” said Khaqan Murtaza, Director General CAA told the media, continuing that the addition of new airlines would further increase tourism in the area.
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Previously, the Airblue flight was projected to land in Skardu in April 2022 as the private airline had started recruitment for handling reservations and other related arrangements.
Recently, the demand for air travel has witnessed a huge surge as a large number of people residing in different areas of the country wish to see lush green meadows, valleys, gushing waterfalls, and snow-clad mountains of the region.
Considering such an increasing air traveling demand and with the intention to promote tourism in the region, the authorities have reportedly issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to private airlines.
Earlier, Raja Nasir Ali Khan, Tourism Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, had confirmed the development and said “Airblue is likely to start flights for Skardu from mid of August.” He added that another private airline ‘North Air’ had also been given NOC to run its operation.
“If any private airline wants to come to GB, we will extend full facilitation to them in this regard,” Raja Nasir remarked, adding that the PIA had already been operating several flights to Skardu from different parts of Pakistan every week.
Moreover, Airblue would be the first private airline to be operating in GB.
