Sahiwal Airport

The closure was primarily due to economic reasons. The routes operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to Sahiwal were not commercially viable and sustained financial losses. The phasing out of PIA's Fokker F27 Friendship fleet, which was suitable for such short-haul routes with basic infrastructure, also contributed significantly to the decision to suspend operations. There is no evidence of closure due to a major accident or military conversion.

The airport is completely abandoned and non-functional. Satellite imagery of the coordinates confirms the existence of a single, paved runway (approximately 5,000 feet long) which is now severely degraded, unmarked, and unusable for any aviation activity. The land, which spans nearly 100 acres and is owned by the PCAA, is largely derelict. There are no terminal buildings or support infrastructure remaining in operational condition. The site has reportedly been subject to encroachment and is occasionally used for informal local activities like driving practice.

Sahiwal Airport, which used the ICAO code OPSW when active, served as a key regional 'feeder' airport. It was inaugurated for commercial flights in the late 1960s. Its primary operator was Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which connected Sahiwal to major cities like Lahore and Karachi using its fleet of Fokker F27 turboprop aircraft. The airport was significant for the region's connectivity, supporting the local agricultural economy (a major producer of cotton and grain) and industrial base by facilitating business travel, administrative access, and light cargo transport.

There are currently no official government or PCAA plans, nor any allocated budget, for the reopening of Sahiwal Airport. However, there have been persistent demands for its revival from local business communities, particularly the Sahiwal Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI). Proponents argue that a functional airport would boost the region's economy, facilitate exports, and improve connectivity. Despite these regular appeals, the significant cost of rehabilitating the runway and building modern infrastructure, combined with doubts about its future economic viability in proximity to larger airports in Multan and Faisalabad, has prevented any concrete progress towards its reopening.