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Inaugurated as a Symbol of Innovation, This International Airport Only Handles One Flight Per Week and Raises Questions About the Actual Use of an Investment of Over R$ 1 Billion.
The New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), inaugurated in January, is considered the largest in Pakistan by total area and one of the most ambitious projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Despite its size, the terminal operates only one weekly flight, a scenario that has raised questions about its viability and the fate of an investment of US$ 246 million (about R$ 1.3 billion).
Located in the Balochistan province, a strategic region in the southwest of the country, the airport was primarily financed by China, as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, a program launched by Beijing to strengthen trade routes and expand its economic presence in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
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Large Airport, but With Minimal Operation
With a runway of 3,658 meters in length, the NGIA was designed to accommodate large aircraft like the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747-8.
The structure includes modern control towers, spacious tarmacs, and an estimated capacity for one million passengers per year.
Since its inauguration, however, the airport has maintained only one domestic flight per week between Gwadar and Karachi, according to data from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
Recent images show little activity in the terminals and empty runways.
According to sources from the Pakistani aviation sector consulted by local media, low passenger demand and operating costs are the main reasons for the limitation of regular flights.
International Financing and Strategic Goals
The project began in 2014, with participation from the governments of Pakistan, China, and Oman, the latter having been the former administrator of the Gwadar territory until 1958.
The construction was overseen by the China Communications Construction Company (CCC), a state-owned Chinese firm involved in other infrastructure projects in the region.
The airport is part of the CPEC, a set of billion-dollar investments aimed at connecting Chinese territory to the Gwadar port, in the Arabian Sea, considered strategic for maritime trade.
According to regional geopolitical experts, the Chinese logistics complex in Pakistan aims to reduce dependency on the Malacca Strait, a route currently subject to international tensions and controlled by Western powers.
Strategic Location in South Asia
Gwadar is situated close to the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the oil transported by ship worldwide passes.
For this reason, regional security analysts evaluate that the Chinese investment in the city holds both economic and strategic importance.
However, Pakistani authorities assert that the objective of the project is strictly commercial.
According to the government, the airport is expected to boost tourism and local business in the long term, integrating Balochistan with the rest of the country and attracting foreign investors.
Questions About Use and Transparency
The operational limitation of the airport has raised criticism from lawmakers and the Pakistani press.
Some analysts claim that the terminal was oversized for the current volume of passengers in the region.
Other observers, however, point out that the infrastructure may have been designed with a focus on cargo transport, not just civilian use.
So far, the authorities of the PCAA have not released official data on international flight movements or any plans for expanding the air network.
In a note released in April, the Civil Aviation Authority stated that the reduced-scale operation is temporary and that new routes will be opened “as commercial demand arises.”
Political Tribute and Historical Symbolism
In 2023, the Parliament of Pakistan approved the name change of the airport to honor Feroz Khan Noon, the former prime minister responsible for negotiating Gwadar’s incorporation into the national territory.
The decision was symbolic and seen as a gesture to strengthen Pakistani sovereignty over the region.
During the inauguration in January 2025, representatives from the governments of China and Pakistan highlighted the venture as a milestone of bilateral cooperation.
According to the Pakistani Planning Ministry, the airport is expected to “serve as a transportation and development hub” in the coming years.
Economic Impact Still Limited
Despite the expectations, residents and merchants in Gwadar report that the economic impact of the project is still minimal.
In interviews with local media, business owners stated that visitor flow has not increased and many of the opportunities created during construction disappeared after the completion of the works.
Pakistani economists point out that the development of Gwadar also depends on the expansion of land and energy infrastructure in the region, which is progressing at a slower pace than initially anticipated.
Regional Distrust and Future Scenario
The Chinese presence in Gwadar is closely watched by neighboring countries, such as India and Iran, which observe the expansion of Beijing’s influence in the Indian Ocean.
Diplomatic sources consulted by international agencies state that the Indian government regards the Gwadar port and airport as part of a logistical network that strengthens China’s military and economic presence in the region.
Pakistani authorities reject this interpretation and emphasize that the CPEC is a program aimed exclusively at commercial and infrastructure purposes.
Experts in transportation and aviation assert that for the NGIA to fulfill its role as a regional hub, it will be necessary to expand domestic and international connections and stimulate local economic growth.
So far, however, there is no public timetable for this expansion.
The future of the New Gwadar International Airport will depend on Pakistan’s ability to attract flights, investors, and passengers to one of the country’s most strategic — and yet most isolated — regions.
If the billion-dollar investment does not yield results in the coming years, will the project continue to be remembered as a symbol of promises yet to be fulfilled, or will it become the turning point for Pakistani infrastructure?
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