Allama Iqbal International Airport

Allama Iqbal International Airport (Punjabi / Template:Langx, Template:Airport codes) is the third largest civilian airport by traffic in Pakistan, after Jinnah International Airport in Karachi and Islamabad International Airport. It serves Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, and the second-largest city of Pakistan. It also serves a large number of travellers from the other nearby regions of Punjab province.

Originally known as Lahore International Airport, it was renamed after the Islamic philosopher and poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal, one of the pioneers that led to the creation of Pakistan. The airport has three terminals: the Allama Iqbal terminal, the Hajj terminal and a cargo terminal. The airport is about 15 km from the city centre.<ref name=":0" />

History

Post independence

At the time of the Independence of Pakistan, Walton Airport was the main airport serving the city of Lahore. When Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) acquired its first jet aircraft, the Boeing 720, Walton Airport was unequipped to handle such an aircraft. The Government of Pakistan decided to build a brand new airport on the site of a 3 runway airbase, which opened in 1962.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> The airport had a specifically built runway and apron to handle aircraft up to the Boeing 747. This enabled Lahore to become accessible by international flights.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> PIA initiated direct flights to both Dubai, and London via Karachi.<ref name=":0" />

Expansion

New airport

Over the course of the next 25 years, the demand for air travel rose. The government had to build a bigger terminal to meet the growing needs of the region. In March 2003, a new terminal was inaugurated by President General Pervez Musharraf, originally commissioned by then ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The airport was named Allama Iqbal International Airport and became the second largest airport in Pakistan after the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. All flights were switched to the new airport and the old airport was passed onto the military. However, the government later reclaimed the airport from the military and developed it into a Hajj terminal.

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority awarded the main contract to Airsys ATM, leader of a consortium with J&P Overseas Ltd, an international building and civil engineering contractor. Airsys ATM is a joint project from Thomson-CSF Airsys and Siemens, dedicated to air traffic management systems and airport development. The Airports Group in the UK was also awarded a $70 million contract for airport systems construction. The project was implemented by a consortium of Joannou & Paraskevaides (J&P), responsible for civil and building works, and the Airports Group, responsible for the implementation of the system. Airsys ATM and Thales ATM were responsible for the fabrication and installation of the air bridges at the new terminal.

In March 2006, PIA inaugurated nonstop service between Lahore and Toronto using Boeing 777s.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2008, the national flag carrier of the UAE, Etihad Airways, opened a dedicated aircraft line maintenance facility at the airport. The facility is used for day-to-day technical line maintenance on Etihad aircraft, including hydraulic structural and instrument checks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In October 2020, British Airways resumed its direct flight operations to and from Lahore after 44 years. However, flights were prosponed 3 years later.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Future plans

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has planned to expand the terminal building, increasing the number of gates from 7 to 22, along with a corresponding rise in remote bays. This expansion will boost the annual passenger capacity of Lahore Airport from 6 million to 20 million, which will be sufficient to accommodate passenger demand for the next 15 to 20 years.

The new design of the Lahore Airport Expansion Project has inspiration from the national flower of Pakistan, Jasmine or locally known as "Chambeli". The airport will have four arms similar to four platters of jasmine flower.Template:Clarify The original building has Mughal architectural features but the new airport will have a blend of Spanish and Mughal architecture.

Gates in the main terminal building will increase from seven to 22. The existing terminal building will not be demolished but will be expanded. The current parking area will be converted into arrival and departure lounges. The first phase, which included the construction of a three-story parking facility in place of the front square lawn, has been completed and is now fully operational. The second phase, which involves upgrading the main runway, is currently underway.

The design of the airport was developed by GilBartolomé Architects<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> from Spain, following a contract awarded to international Spanish Firm, TYSPA International,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which firm also worked on expanding the Madrid and São Paulo Airports. A Chinese firm, the China Construction Third Engineering Bureau, has been awarded the contract, worth US$382 million (RMB 2.6 billion CNY), to carry out the construction work.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the expansion of the airport, nearby road network has also been improved, which has helped to ease traffic congestion on the roads leading to the terminal.

Structure

Template:Prose LHE is fitted with all the essentials for domestic and international flights. The information below is correct as of September 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web The official website to AIIA</ref>

Apron

• 7 air bridges with PSS & APSS facilitiesTemplate:Explain
• 23 remote parking stands

Runway

• Two parallel runways: one concrete, the other asphalt
• Primary Runway 36R/18L: 3,360 metres long, 45 metres wide, 15 metres shoulders on both sides. Max. capacity: Airbus A380.
• Secondary Runway 36L/18R: 2,743 metres long, 46 metres wide. Max. capacity: Boeing 747-400.
• Parallel taxiway for rapid entry/exit
• 2 rapid exit taxiways (newly constructed)
• Instrument Landing System Category-II and ILS CAT-IIIB on RWY 36R.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Navigational aids: DVOR/DME/TDME, NDB, OM, MM

Airport services

• Pakistan State Oil provides fuel services to all airlines flying out of the airport (Jet A-100).
• Fire fighting and Rescue Services. Category: 9.
• FIDS systems located in the lounges and briefing concourses showing television programmes and flight information
• Airport Mosque, with five times daily and Jummah prayers, located outside the airport on the left-hand side of the terminal building
• CAA Porter services and Metro cab services are available.
• Customs and Immigration for international flights
• Cargo and luggage wrapping services
• Passenger assistance services (upon request)
• Full-service branches of National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank Ltd, Bank Al-Falah, and Allied Bank Ltd. along with ATMs
• Pakistan Post fully-staffed location

Ground handling agents

• Pakistan International Airlines
• Shaheen Airport Services (SAPS)
• Gerry's DNATA Ground Handling & Cargo
• MENZIES-RAS AIRPORT SERVICES (RAPS)

Statistics

The following table provides details of the major traffic flows out of Lahore in terms of passenger numbers, aircraft movements, cargo and mail. Note that the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan operates with fiscal years starting on July and ending in June of next year. The results were collected from the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan website.:<ref>Statistical Information of CAA Pakistan Template:Webarchive CAA Pakistan, assessed 8 March 2009</ref>

Fiscal year	Aircraft movements	Passengers (intl & domestic)	Cargo handled (m. tons)	Mail handled (m. tons)
2006	30,991	2,779,223	66,643	1,582
2007	29,298	3,018,220	75,816	1,713
2008	30,299	3,217,844	76,030	1,113
2009	24,804	3,506,262	84,798	1,739
2010	31,093	3,459,211	80,308	1,449
2011	30,592	3,680,436	77,057	1,544
2012	31,498	4,122,009	91,015	1,121
2013	29,942	4,529,682	89,376	1,348
2014	29,896	4,606,767	83,715	250
2015	34,619	4,876,129	88,750	239
2016	38,924	4,989,462	98,254	302
2017	39,228	5,031,857	105,019	261
2018	32,304	4,490,182	87,969	190

Busiest routes at Allama Iqbal International Airport (by number of flights weekly)

Rank	City	Country	Number of flights	Airlines
1	Karachi	Template:Flag	69	airblue, AirSial, Fly Jinnah, Pakistan International Airlines, SereneAir
2	Jeddah	Template:Flag	50	airblue, AirSial, Fly Jinnah, Flynas, Pakistan International Airlines, Saudia, SereneAir
3	Dubai	Template:Flag	42	airblue, Emirates, Flydubai, Pakistan International Airlines, SereneAir
4	Riyadh	Template:Flag	19	airblue, Fly Jinnah, flynas, Pakistan International Airlines, Saudia
5	Sharjah	Template:Flag	18	airblue, Fly Jinnah
6	Abu Dhabi	Template:Flag	17	airblue, Etihad Airways, Pakistan International Airlines
7	Doha	Template:Flag	14	Qatar Airways, Pakistan International Airlines
8	Istanbul	Template:Flag	14	Turkish Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines
9	Dammam	Template:Flag	12	AirSial, Fly Jinnah, flynas, Pakistan International Airlines
10	Kuala Lumpur	Template:Flag	7	Batik Air

Awards and recognitions

• Allama Iqbal International Airport was ranked the world's leading airport by Singapore Airlines in service performance in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Accidents

On 17 January 2025, an international Airbus A320 operated by Pakistan International Airlines landed on the secondary runway 36L, despite being cleared to land on the primary runway 36R. The lights on runway 36L were even turned off. The cockpit crew was immediately grounded by the airline. The flight, originally scheduled from Dammam to Multan, had been diverted to Lahore due to low visibility in Multan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 13 March 2025, an Airbus A320 operated by Pakistan International Airlines landed at Lahore International Airport with a missing wheel raising serious issues about pre flight checks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Airlines of Pakistan
• List of airports in Pakistan
• Shaheen Airport Services
• Transport in Pakistan

External links

• Airport information in Pakistan
• Allama Iqbal Int'l Airport information
• Allama Iqbal International Airport
• Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore
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• Template:SkyVector
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