Skardu Airport

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Skardu Airport

IATA: KDU - ICAO: OPSD
Summary
Airport type		Military/Public
Operator		Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
Serves		Skardu
Elevation AMSL		7,316 ft (2,230 m)
Coordinates		35°20′08″N, 075°32′10″E
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
14/32	11,944	3,641	Asphalt
15/33	6,501	1,982	Asphalt

Skardu Airport (IATA: KDU, ICAO: OPSD) is a small domestic airport, located at Skardu, Northern Areas, Pakistan. Skardu is one of the two major hubs of all trekking expeditions in the Northern Areas, a region that includes four of the fourteen Eight-thousander peaks (8,000 m (26,247 ft) and above) of the world. Skardu is the gateway to Baltoro Glacier, Concordia, where spectacular views of three of the Eight-thousanders are available.It is also being used as a regional PAF airbase.

Although the journey from Islamabad to Skardu by Karakoram Highway provides a beautiful scenery, the journey by road takes 20 to 24 hours whereas the flight time for the same journey is nearly 50 minutes. This makes air travel from Islamabad to Skardu an attractive choice for many trekkers.

[edit] Airlines and destinations

Pakistan International Airlines (Islamabad)

Skardu can accommodate a Boeing 737 aircraft, flights are depending heavily on weather conditions at Skardu airport. Flights are often canceled at any time and are resumed on short notice.