Gilgit follows the same basic air-travel pattern as Skardu — no direct service from Lahore, and a connection through Islamabad required.
The route: Lahore → Islamabad → Gilgit
Fly Lahore to Islamabad, then connect onward to Gilgit Airport. Like Skardu, Gilgit flights are visual (not instrument-guided), so they depend on clear morning weather over the surrounding mountains.
Which airlines fly it
PIA operates the Islamabad–Gilgit route; frequency is seasonal, generally busier through the summer travel months than in winter.
Gilgit vs Skardu flights — what’s different
Gilgit’s flight is, if anything, slightly more weather-sensitive than Skardu’s due to the surrounding terrain, so build in extra schedule flexibility, particularly outside peak summer months.
Booking tips
- Prioritise morning departures for the best chance of the flight actually operating that day
- Don’t book same-day onward travel immediately after arrival — give yourself a buffer in case of delay
- If you’re combining Gilgit with Hunza, note that Gilgit Airport is the gateway for both — driving from Gilgit city to Hunza takes roughly 2–2.5 hours
If your dates are fixed and inflexible, consider the KKH road route instead — it takes longer but isn’t subject to the same day-of cancellation risk as a visual-approach flight.