Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has resumed direct flights between Dubai and Skardu, the gateway to Pakistan’s breathtaking Gilgit Baltistan region, as confirmed by the Pakistani consulate in Dubai. The relaunched route, originally introduced in August 2023, aims to capitalize on growing global interest in the area after CNN named it among the world’s top 25 travel destinations for 2025.
A celebratory ceremony at PIA office of Dubai is marked as the route’s revival, attended by Consul General Hussain Muhammad and foreign tourists boarding the inaugural flight. “This strengthens UAE-Pakistan ties and promotes our northern regions’ spectacular landscapes,” officials stated. Skardu serves as the basecamp for five 8,000-meter peaks, including K2.
The development follows PIA’s recent European expansion, including new Lahore-Paris flights launching June 18. This builds on the airline’s return to EU skies in January after a 4.5-year suspension, making it Pakistan’s sole carrier with direct European access. The national flag carrier currently operates two weekly Islamabad-Paris flights, with the Lahore addition expected to ease travel and boost tourism revenue.
Aviation analysts note the dual strategy targets both adventure tourism (via Skardu) and diaspora connectivity (through European routes) as Pakistan’s aviation sector rebounds from pandemic-era challenges. With Skardu’s summer tourism season peaking, the twice-weekly Dubai flights offer Middle Eastern travelers direct access to trekking and mountaineering circuits previously requiring domestic connections via Islamabad.
Also read: Pakistan’s tourism industry set to generate $4billion by 2025
