# Skardu Airport (KDU)

> Skardu, PK · IATA: KDU · ICAO: OPSD · Medium Airport

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| IATA | `KDU` |
| ICAO | `OPSD` |
| City | Skardu |
| Country | PK |
| Type | Medium Airport |
| Elevation | 2230 m |
| Cargo | ❌ |
| GPS | 35.33550, 75.53600 |

## Description

Skardu is a mountaineering gateway, not yet a freight airport. Sitting at 2,230 metres in Gilgit-Baltistan, it opens the Karakoram and the 8,000-metre peaks around K2 to visitors. Since 2023 it has held international status, with PIA's seasonal Dubai service alongside domestic links to Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, and AirSial joining from 2026. Traffic is driven by tourism and the diaspora; air cargo remains marginal and there is no dedicated freight terminal. The airport authority plans cargo facilities for the region's agricultural and mineral exports, but for now shipments route through Islamabad (ISB). The overland alternative, the Karakoram Highway, is weather-dependent in winter, which keeps air transport via Islamabad the benchmark for urgent goods.

---

*Freight Academy — Airport Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/skardu-airport-kdu](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/skardu-airport-kdu)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/airports/en/skardu-airport-kdu](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/airports/en/skardu-airport-kdu)*

*LLM-Summary (JSON): https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/airports/skardu-airport-kdu/llm-summary*