New airline South Air operates trial flight to Gwadar

QUETTA: In a significant boost to Gwadar’s air connectivity, private airline South Air has launched its first trial flight service from Karachi to Gwadar.

The trial flight successfully landed at the New Gwadar International Air­port, marking a key step towards improving air tra­vel facilities in the coastal region.

According to the airport flights schedule, South Air flight Z8-905 departed from Karachi at 12 noon on Tuesday and arrived at the New Gwadar Inter­national Airport at 3:40pm.

The operationalisation of the Gwadar airport under the China-Pakistan Eco­nomic Corridor (CPEC) project is expected to facilitate smoother movement of passengers, cargo and services.

The new air service is also expected to significantly reduce travel time between Gwadar, Karachi, Quetta and other cities, while boosting trade, tourism and development activities across the Makran division.

According to the private airline spokesperson, improved connectivity between the Gwadar seaport and international airport could help transform the city into a modern commercial and transit hub where maritime and air transport complement each other.

The development is expected to not only generate employment opportunities and promote business activity but also contribute to the region’s overall economic growth.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2026