Allama Iqbal International Airport

Allama Iqbal International Airport
علامہ اقبال بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈه
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorPakistan Civil Aviation Authority
ServesLahore
LocationLahore-54810, Punjab, Pakistan
Opened1962 (1962)
Hub forPakistan International Airlines
Operating base forSereneAir
Elevation AMSL213 m / 698 ft
Coordinates31°31′17″N 74°24′12″E / 31.52139°N 74.40333°E / 31.52139; 74.40333
Websitewww.lahoreairport.com.pk
Interactive map of Allama Iqbal International Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
18R/36L 2,743 8,999 Asphalt
18L/36R 3,360 11,024 Concrete
Statistics (July 2024 – June 2025)
Passengers6,048,541 Increase 11.6%
Aircraft movements36,023 Increase 24.2%
Cargo handled114,882 metric tons Increase 4.1%
Source: Statistics from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority[1]

Allama Iqbal International Airport (Punjabi / Urdu: علامہ اقبال بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا, IATA: LHE, ICAO: OPLA) is an international airport serving Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, and the second-largest city in Pakistan. It is the third largest commercial airport by traffic in Pakistan, after Jinnah International Airport in Karachi and Islamabad International Airport. 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 who 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.[2]

History

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.[2] 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.[3] PIA initiated direct flights to both Dubai, and London via Karachi.[2]

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, which the government later reclaimed from the military and developed into a Hajj terminal.

In March 2006, PIA inaugurated nonstop service between Lahore and Toronto using Boeing 777-200LR aircraft.[4][5] 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.[6]

In October 2020, British Airways resumed its direct flight operations to and from Lahore after 44 years. However, flights were postponed 3 years later.[7][8]

In 2024, expansion work began at the airport aimed at reducing congestion during peak hours. The expansion included a new remote cage area and the extension of the terminal to accommodate 2 more aircraft. The expansion is expected to be completed by October 2026.[9]

In June 2025, PIA operated the first flight between Lahore and Europe since their ban in 2020, flying to Paris. The flights were however suspended later. In March 2026, PIA resumed flights between London and Lahore, which was last served by British Airways in 2023.

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. The original building has Mughal architectural features but the new airport will have a blend of Spanish and Mughal architecture.

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[10] from Spain, following a contract awarded to international Spanish Firm, TYSPA International,[11] 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.[12] 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

LHE is fitted with all the essentials for domestic and international flights. The information below is correct as of September 2020.[13]

The new terminal (airside)
PIA Boeing 777-200ER docked on a jet-bridge
Holding Lounge
Arrival boards

Apron

  • 7 air bridges with PSS & APSS facilities
  • 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.[14]
  • 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)

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Airblue Dammam,[15] Baku (begins 2 May 2026),[16] Skardu
AirSial Jeddah, Riyadh
Azerbaijan Airlines Baku[17]
Centrum Air Tashkent [18]
China Southern Airlines Guangzhou[19]
Flyadeal Riyadh[20]
FitsAir Colombo–Bandaranaike[21]
Fly Baghdad Baghdad[22]
Flydubai Dubai–International[23]
Fly Jinnah Bahrain, Dubai–International,[24] Muscat, Islamabad (Begins 1 May),[25] Riyadh,[26]
Iran Air Mashhad
Iran Airtour Mashhad[27]
Iraqi Airways Najaf[28]
Kish Air Mashhad[29]
Pakistan International Airlines Bahrain, Baku,[30] London–Heathrow,[31] Manchester (resumes 3 July 2026)[32]
SalamAir Muscat[33]
Thai Airways International Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi[34]
Turkish Airlines Istanbul
Uzbekistan Airways Tashkent[35]

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
DHL Aviation Bahrain[36]
SF Airlines Ezhou[37]
YTO Cargo Airlines Lanzhou[38]

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.[39]

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
Busiest routes at Allama Iqbal International Airport (by number of flights weekly)
Rank City Country Number of flights Airlines
1 Karachi Pakistan 69 airblue, AirSial, Fly Jinnah, Pakistan International Airlines, SereneAir
2 Jeddah Saudi Arabia 50 airblue, AirSial, Fly Jinnah, Flynas, Pakistan International Airlines, Saudia, SereneAir
3 Dubai United Arab Emirates 42 airblue, Emirates, Flydubai, Pakistan International Airlines, SereneAir
4 Riyadh Saudi Arabia 19 airblue, Fly Jinnah, flynas, Pakistan International Airlines, Saudia
5 Sharjah|United Arab Emirates 18 airblue, Fly Jinnah
6 Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 17 airblue, Etihad Airways, Pakistan International Airlines
7 Doha Qatar 14 Qatar Airways, Pakistan International Airlines
8 Istanbul Turkey 14 Turkish Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines
9 Dammam Saudi Arabia 12 AirSial, Fly Jinnah, flynas, Pakistan International Airlines
10 Kuala Lumpur|Malaysia 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.[40]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Airport Statistics" (PDF). Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore | www.lahoreairport.com". www.lahoreairport.com.pk. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Thanks For Your Vote of Confidence – PIA Advertisement – History of PIA – Forum". Historyofpia.com. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  4. ^ Now fly non-stop Pakistan to Toronto in less than 14 hours! (Advertisement). Pakistan International Airlines. 3 March 2006. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022.
  5. ^ "NA (Direct flights to US could not be operated due to security hazards, NA told)". Pakistan Press International. 7 September 2006. Gale A151071397.
  6. ^ "Etihad Airways opens dedicated aircraft line maintenance facility in Lahore Pakistan". Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  7. ^ "British Airways flight lands in Lahore after 40 years". Profit by Pakistan Today. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  8. ^ "British Airways revives destination in Pakistan after 44 years". www.aerotime.aero. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Direction to timely complete Lahore airport expansion projects". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  10. ^ "Allama Iqbal Airport Expansion (Under construction)". GilBartolome Architects. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  11. ^ "TYPSA designs the new Lahore airport in Pakistan". TYPSA::Consulting Engineers and Architects. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Chinese Company Contracted To Build Pakistans Largest Airport". Pakistan Point. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  13. ^ "Welcome to Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore". Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015. The official website to AIIA
  14. ^ "Fogbound losses". TNS – The News on Sunday. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  15. ^ "Airblue Announces Flights from Lahore to Major Saudi City". propakistani. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  16. ^ "Airblue to launch Lahore–Baku flights from May 2". sasticket.pk. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Azerbaijan airlines to launch direct flights to Pakistan from Sept 20". nation.com. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  18. ^ "Centrum Air to launch direct Tashkent–Lahore flights from April". kun.uz. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  19. ^ "China Southern Airlines carried 90,000 passengers between China and Pakistan in 2025". nation.com. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  20. ^ "Saudi airline Flyadeal to introduce Riyadh-Lahore flights". connectingtravel.com. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  21. ^ "FitsAir to start Colombo–Lahore service in early 2026". Bangladeshmonitor.com. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  22. ^ "International Airline Announces Flights to Two Pakistani Cities". propakistani. 27 February 2026.
  23. ^ "flydubai launches flights to two destinations in Pakistan". flydubai.com. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  24. ^ "Low-cost airline launches new flights to DXB". Time Out Dubai. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  25. ^ "Low-cost airline launches new flights to DXB". propakistani. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  26. ^ "Lahore and Riyadh: Fly Jinnah expands its international network with new flights". Brerecorder.com. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  27. ^ "New flights between Mashhad and Lahore are launched". 15 November 2025.
  28. ^ "Iraq expands air links with Najaf–Lahore route". Shafaq. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  29. ^ "Iranian airline launches direct passenger flights between Mashhad and Lahore". 5 October 2025.
  30. ^ "PIA launches inaugural flight from Lahore to Baku". dawn.com. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  31. ^ "PIA to resume Lahore-London flights in March after six-year hiatus". ArabNews. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  32. ^ Tahira, Sabica (7 April 2026). "PIA Announces New International Route with Weekly Flights". TechJuice. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  33. ^ "SalamAir has announced the launch of two new destinations in Pakistan: Islamabad and Lahore". omanobserver.om. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  34. ^ "Thai Airways resumes direct flights". February 2022.
  35. ^ "Uzbekistan Airways to Increase Number of Flights to Two Pakistani Cities". propakistani.pk. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  36. ^ "DHL and Etihad Cargo increase connectivity through the Middle East". Archived from the original on 5 November 2014.
  37. ^ "SF Airlines launches China-Pakistan intl air cargo route". China Daily. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  38. ^ "New cargo air service links Lahore, Lanzhou in NW China". The Nation. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  39. ^ "Statistical Information of CAA Pakistan". CAA Pakistan. Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  40. ^ "Allama Iqbal International Airport Tops in Services – History of PIA – Forum". Historyofpia.com. Retrieved 17 February 2019.

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