G-B plans aircraft lease deal with South Air to improve air connectivity

Aircraft to be leased against government guarantees; South Air will operate the flights under the joint venture

GILGIT:

The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government on Monday announced plans to lease aircraft under a joint venture with South Air to improve air connectivity in the region, with the provincial government providing guarantees for the leased planes.

The proposal was discussed during a meeting between Chief Minister Amjad Hussain and South Air management, which agreed to operate flights under the proposed arrangement.

“The arrangement is aimed at improving air connectivity for G-B,” CM Amjad said, adding that aircraft would be leased against government guarantees, while South Air would operate the flights under the joint venture.

The matter emerged during a meeting between CM Amjad and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, where the two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, including long-standing boundary disputes between the two regions.

Amjad also sought professional training opportunities in Peshawar for staff of the G-B Testing Service. Governor Kundi welcomed the proposal and directed his staff to make the necessary arrangements.

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The two leaders agreed to initially address the boundary disputes through consultations between the chief secretaries of G-B and K-P before taking the matter to the political leadership.

They expressed their commitment to resolving the disputes through mutual understanding and amicable negotiations.

Flights between Islamabad and Gilgit are particularly vulnerable to weather disruptions, while the relatively short runway at Gilgit Airport limits aircraft operations. Passengers frequently face delays and cancellations, making air travel an uncertain option for residents and visitors.

In June 2024, erratic schedules, prolonged delays and frequent cancellations of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights disrupted travel during the peak tourism season. The then chief minister, Haji Gulbar Khan, had sought federal intervention, warning that unreliable air services were affecting tourism, local businesses and government officials travelling to Islamabad.

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The problem persisted in 2025, when PIA cancelled six flights to and from the northern areas, including five services connecting Islamabad and Gilgit and one Islamabad-Skardu flight. The cancellations left passengers stranded and struggling to make alternative travel arrangements.

Infrastructure limitations have also restricted flight operations at Gilgit Airport. In July 2026, it was reported that the airport's runway, measuring approximately 1,646 metres, and frequent weather disruptions limited operations to smaller ATR aircraft.

Between March and June 2026, Gilgit Airport handled around 4,000 passengers, compared with more than 50,000 at Skardu Airport during the same period.

Former CM Amjad Hussain Azar subsequently urged the federal government to construct a modern, Boeing-compatible airport in Gilgit, arguing that improved aviation infrastructure was essential to expanding tourism and year-round connectivity.