First int'l flight lands on newly rebuilt runway of Karachi airport

An international flight has successfully landed on the newly reconstructed main runway at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.

According to reports, the first international arrival — a flight from Saudi Arabia — touched down on Thursday afternoon following the completion of renovation works on the airport’s central runway.

The occasion was marked with a traditional water salute by the Pakistan Airports Authority.

The project, completed at a cost exceeding Rs8 billion, took approximately 18 months to finish.

Following the upgrade, the airport is now capable of handling large cargo aircraft and wide-body jets, including the Airbus A380.

CEO and Airport Manager Adnan Khan stated that the runway has been constructed in accordance with ICAO Category 4F standards, enabling it to accommodate larger aircraft.

With the completion of Runway 07L/25R, its classification has also been upgraded, and the main runway is now fully prepared to handle wide-body operations.

The first successful calibration test landing was carried out on 3 January 2026.

Project Director Hafiz Zahid Ishaq said the scheme was completed within a record 18 months while ensuring that both domestic and international flight operations continued uninterrupted.

He added that the expansion and reconstruction have enhanced the runway’s length, width and load-bearing capacity, using specialised materials to support heavier aircraft. Improvements have also been made to the lighting system for better aircraft approach guidance and to the taxiways.

The upgrades are expected to significantly enhance operational capacity and safety standards for the next 25 to 30 years.

A Category I system has also been installed to assist operations in adverse weather conditions, with scope for further technological advancement if required.