PIA starting flights daily to Skardu & Gilgit from Islamabad

[Asim Khalil]

According to add in today's Express Newspaper, PIA starting daily flights from Islamabad to Skardu and Gilgit

[Asim Khalil]

http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_ISB ... 9030-1.jpg

[ammad]

Wasn't already there? I remember double daily to Gilgit and once daily B737 flight to Skardu was always there. Infact i flew with Captain Masood Opel in cockpit from ISB to KDU in 2006.

[Asim Khalil]

I guess they are starting by flying ATRs.

[Abbas Ali]

PIA Fokker F27 Friendship at Gilgit Airport.

According to 1996 Summer PIA timetable:

PIA operated nineteen non-stop flights a week between Islamabad and Gilgit with Fokker F27.

PIA operated daily non-stop flights between Islamabad and Skardu with Boeing 737-300.

Abbas

[proudPakistani]

Now PIA got 7th A320, why don't they start daily A320 flights to Skardu and Gilgit from Lahore,Karachi,Islamabad and Peshawer? Its a peak summer season and it will boost tourism in Gilgit Baltistan area.

[CoyBoy]

Can Gilgit handle big aircraft? why has KDU lost jet service?

[Abbas Ali]

I think A320 / B737 flights with normal passenger/cargo loads not possible on Gilgit Airport runway.

BTW, I saw news channel video that apparently shows PAF Cessna 560XL Citation Excel (serial number J-754) turbofan-powered business jet at Gilgit Airport on May 8, 2015.



Abbas

[aviator773]

ATR 72s can meet the high demand for Gilgit routes but I strongly advocate the revival of jet services at Skardu. 320s are more than capable of doing this route as pointed by Abbas bhai in some earlier post. I think it was Prince Charles' 320 which landed there.

[Abbas Ali]

^ Yes, A320 should be able to perform flights to/from Skardu without any problem when required.

There's also video of an Ilyushin Il-76 departure from Skardu.



Abbas

[CoyBoy]

What was the reason behind stopping jet service there?

Gilgit had a one time jet flight promo tour by Bae 146 in the 80s when they were showing it to PIA, maybe it was Skardu not sure.

[Abbas Ali]

Maybe ATR flights for Skardu considered more economical compared to A320?

Abbas

[TAILWIND]

Skardu has a long 12000ft rwy and a very wide valley, with enough room to maneouvre. In good old days, B737 could reprt overhread, descend in the valley and then fly the complete circuit to land either on rwy 33 or 15.Gilgit on the other hand is a very restricted space, one sided approach only with no possibility for a go araoung, plus there is spur just short of the approach end and the aircraft has to make an offset appraoch, clear the spur and then turn for the finals.
Unless a new airport is constrcuted at a new location e.g close to bungi side, i dont think larger jets can land at the current gilgit airport.

[Abbas Ali]

One of my favourite photos of PIA Boeing 737-340 at Skardu Airport.



Abbas

[TAILWIND]

One of my favourite photos of PIA Boeing 737-340 at Skardu Airport.

Abbas

From the aircraft livery and vegetation around the rwy, I think it is taking off from old rwy 15. The new 12,000 ft new rwy is tawards east and is surrounded by sand dunes.
Have fond memories from this place. The arrival of PIA flight especially in winters was sort of a festival. We would get latest newspapers, some letters from home plus lot of new faces in the place.
The names of PIA pilots were known to local folks, alongwith the probability of flight landing with a particular pilot at the controls. Adil, Shigri, Siraj few names i remember, thie landing quotient, I won't disclose.