Abstract: The invention relates to a gas barrier packaging laminate (10) having durability to stress crack formation and yet a bending stiffness and good integrity between the laminate layers, comprising outer layers of heat-sealable polyolefin (16, 17), two polymer carrier layers (11, 12) each being coated with a SiOx gas barrier layer (13, 14), wherein the two polymer carrier layers with SiOx layers are laminated to each other by means of an intermediate polymer layer (15), which includes a thermoplastic polymer having high elastomeric properties. The required stiffness of the packaging laminate is obtained by forming a structural sandwich construction with two stiff carrier layers separated by a relatively thick lower density intermediate layer. Preferably, the thickness of the intermediate polymer layer (15) constitutes from about 30 to about 55% of the total thickness of the packaging laminate (10).