First international flight lands on newly reconstructed runway at Jinnah International Airport
Pakistan
Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport welcomes its first international flight on the modernised runway, completed at over Rs8 billion, enhancing capacity for wide-body aircraft and cargo operations.
KARACHI (Dunya News) – The newly reconstructed runway at Jinnah International Airport successfully received its first international flight on Thursday afternoon.
The flight, arriving from Saudi Arabia, marked a milestone following extensive upgrades to the airport’s central runway.
Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) celebrated the aircraft’s landing with a traditional water salute. The Rs8 billion-plus project took 18 months to complete, allowing operations to continue uninterrupted for domestic and international flights throughout the construction period.
The expansion and reconstruction now allow large cargo planes and wide-body aircraft, including the Airbus A380, to safely land. According to PAA CEO and Airport Manager Adnan Khan, the runway has been upgraded to Category 4F standards, meeting international requirements for large aircraft.
Following the completion of Runway 07L/25R, its classification has been elevated, making it fully capable of handling wide-body planes. The first successful calibration landing was conducted on 3 January 2026.
Project Director Hafiz Zahid Ishaq noted that the upgraded runway features reinforced materials to support heavier aircraft loads, improved taxiways, and advanced lighting systems to enhance approach guidance. The improvements are expected to maintain operational safety and efficiency for the next 25–30 years.
Additionally, a Category 1 navigation system has been installed to manage adverse weather conditions, with scope for further upgrades if required.
