Allama Iqbal International Airport

Airport serving Lahore, Pakistan

Allama Iqbal International Airport

علامہ اقبال بین الاقوامی/انٹرراشٹری ہوائی اڈا

* IATA: LHE
* ICAO: OPLA

Summary
Airport type| Public
Operator| Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority Airport Manager: Nazir Ahmad Khan
Serves| Lahore
Location| Lahore-54810, Punjab, Pakistan
Hub for| Pakistan International Airlines
Operating base for| SereneAir
Elevation AMSL| 698 ft / 213 m
Coordinates| 31°31′17″N 74°24′12″E﻿ / ﻿31.52139°N 74.40333°E﻿ / 31.52139; 74.40333
Website| www.lahoreairport.com.pk
Map

LHE/OPLA

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LHE/OPLA

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Runways
| Direction | Length  | Surface

|
|

ft  | m
18R/36L  | 8,999  | 2,743  | Asphalt
18L/36R  | 11,024  | 3,360  | Concrete
Statistics (July 2021 – June 2022)
| Passengers| 3,695,960

|

Aircraft movements| 29,172  58%
Cargo handled| 86,774 metric tons

Source: Statistics from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority[1]

Allama Iqbal International Airport (Punjabi, Urdu: علامہ اقبال بین الاقوامی/انترراشٹری ہوائی اڈا, IATA: LHE, ICAO: OPLA) is the third largest civilian airport by traffic in Pakistan, after Jinnah International Airport, Karachi and Islamabad International Airport. It serves Lahore, capital of Punjab and second-largest city of Pakistan. It also serves a large portion of the travellers from the other regions of Punjab province. Originally known as Lahore International Airport, it was renamed after the visionary poet and philosopher Dr. Allama 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 centre of the city.[2]

## History

[edit]

### Post independence

[edit]

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, 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]

### Expansion

[edit]

#### New airport

[edit]

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.[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 has resumed its direct flight operations to and from Lahore after 44 years.[7][8]

#### Future plans

[edit]

Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has planned the expansion of the terminal building and the number of gates will be increased from 7 to 22, with a corresponding increase in remote bays. This will increase the annual passenger capacity of Lahore Airport from 6 million to 20 million which will be sufficient to cater to the passenger load 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.[clarification needed] 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 be increased from seven to 22. The present terminal building will not be demolished but will be expanded. The current parking area will be converted to arrival and departure lounges. The first phase that included the construction of the triple storey parking, in place of the front square lawn, has been complete and is now fully operational. The second phase which includes the upgradation of the main runway is underway.

The design of the airport was developed by GilBartolomé Architects[9] from Spain, following a contract awarded to international Spanish Firm, TYSPA International,[10] 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.[11] 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

[edit]

This article is in list format but may read better as prose. You can help by converting this article, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (November 2019)

|

LHE is fitted with all the essentials for domestic and international flights. The information below is correct as of September 2020.[12]

The new terminal (airside)

PIA 777-200LR docked on the jet-bridge

Holding Lounge

Arrival boards

### Apron

[edit]

* 7 air bridges with PSS & APSS facilities
* 23 remote parking stands

### Runway

[edit]

* 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-III on RWY 36R.[13]
* Navigational aids: DVOR/DME/TDME, NDB, OM, MM

### Airport services

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

* Pakistan International Airlines
* Shaheen Airport Services (SAPS)
* Gerry's DNATA Ground Handling & Cargo

## Airlines and destinations

[edit]

### Passenger

[edit]

Airlines| Destinations

|

Air Arabia |  Ras Al Khaimah
airblue |  Abu Dhabi, Dubai–International, Jeddah, Karachi, Riyadh, Sharjah, Skardu (Begins 30 March 2025)[14]
AirSial |  Dammam, Jeddah,[15] Karachi, Muscat
Azerbaijan Airlines |  Baku[16]
Batik Air Malaysia |  Kuala Lumpur–International
Cham Wings Airlines |  Damascus[17]
China Southern Airlines |  Guangzhou[18]
Emirates |  Dubai–International
Etihad Airways |  Abu Dhabi
flydubai |  Dubai–International[19]
Fly Jinnah[20][21] |  Dammam, Jeddah, Karachi, Riyadh, Sharjah
Flynas |  Jeddah, Riyadh
Gulf Air |  Bahrain
Jazeera Airways |  Kuwait City
Kuwait Airways |  Kuwait City
Mahan Air |  Tehran–Imam Khomeini
Pakistan International Airlines |  Abu Dhabi, Bahawalpur, Bahrain,[22] Dammam, Doha, Dubai–International, Jeddah, Kuwait City (begins 25 January 2025), Karachi, Kuala Lumpur–International, Medina, Muscat, Quetta, Riyadh, Skardu, Toronto–Pearson
Qatar Airways |  Doha
SalamAir |  Muscat[23]
Saudia |  Jeddah, Riyadh
Serene Air |  Dubai–International, Jeddah, Karachi, Quetta, Sharjah
SriLankan Airlines |  Colombo–Bandaranaike
Thai Airways International |  Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi[24]
Turkish Airlines |  Istanbul
Uzbekistan Airways |  Tashkent[25]

### Cargo

[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Airlines| Destinations

|

DHL Aviation |  Abu Dhabi, Bagram, Bahrain[26]
Egyptair Cargo[27] |  Cairo
FitsAir |  Colombo–Bandaranaike
Maximus Air Cargo |  Abu Dhabi, Dubai–International
MNG Airlines |  Abu Dhabi, Kabul
Qatar Cargo |  Doha
SF Airlines |  Ezhou[28]
SriLankan Cargo |  Colombo–Bandaranaike
TCS Couriers |  Dubai–International, Karachi
Turkish Cargo |  Istanbul
Uzbekistan Airways |  Tashkent
YTO Cargo Airlines |  Guangzhou, Kunming, Lanzhou[29]

## Statistics

[edit]

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.:[30]

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 |  Pakistan | 61  | airblue, Pakistan International Airlines, Serene Air, AirSial, Fly Jinnah
2  | Jeddah |  Saudi Arabia | 33  | airblue, Pakistan International Airlines, Saudia
3  | Dubai |  United Arab Emirates | 26  | airblue, Emirates, Pakistan International Airlines
4  | Abu Dhabi |  United Arab Emirates | 22  | airblue, Etihad Airways, Pakistan International Airlines
5  | Doha |  Qatar | 21  | Qatar Airways
6  | Islamabad |  Pakistan | 17  | Pakistan International Airlines
7  | Muscat |  Oman | 16  | Oman Air, Pakistan International Airlines
8  | Dammam |  Saudi Arabia | 12  | flynas, Pakistan International Airlines, SaudiGulf Airlines
9  | Riyadh |  Saudi Arabia | 10  | flynas, Pakistan International Airlines, Saudia
10  | Kuwait City |  Kuwait | 09  | Jazeera Airways, Kuwait Airways

## Awards and recognitions

[edit]

* Allama Iqbal International Airport was ranked the world's leading airport by Singapore Airlines in service performance in 2006.[31]

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority "Airport Statistics" (PDF).
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. ^ TLTP (13 October 2020). "British Airways flight lands in Lahore after 40 years". Profit by Pakistan Today. 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. ^ "Allama Iqbal Airport Expansion (Under construction)". GilBartolome Architects. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
10. ^ "TYPSA designs the new Lahore airport in Pakistan – TYPSA". TYPSA::Consulting Engineers and Architects. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
11. ^ "Chinese Company Contracted To Build Pakistans Largest Airport". Pakistan Point. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
12. ^ "Welcome to Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore". Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015. The official website to AIIA
13. ^ "Fogbound losses". TNS – The News on Sunday. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
14. ^ "Airblue Plans Lahore – Skardu Service in NS25". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
15. ^ "AirSial expected to start operations in Pakistan next month, first plane lands in Karachi".
16. ^ "Azerbaijan Airlines Launches Pakistan Service From late-Sep 2023". AeroRoutes. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
17. ^ Louay Houssamo (18 November 2024). "وصول أول رحلة جوية لشركة أجنحة الشام من دمشق إلى مطار لاهور في ‏باكستان". Syrian Arab News Agency. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
18. ^ "China Southern adds Guangzhou – Lahore from late-Dec 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
19. ^ "FLYDUBAI EXPANDS PAKISTAN NETWORK FROM JULY 2024". AeroRoutes. 25 June 2024.
20. ^ "Pakistan's low-cost airline Fly Jinnah set to commence operations after securing license". 20 October 2022.
21. ^ Fly Jinnah Official website
22. ^ Liu, Jim. "Pakistan International to resume Lahore – Bahrain from mid-Sep 2020". Routesonline. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
23. ^ "SALAMAIR JUNE 2024 SOUTH ASIA NETWORK EXPANSION". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
24. ^ "Thai Airways resumes direct flights".
25. ^ Liu, Jim (18 October 2024). "Uzbekistan Airways Resumes Lahore Service From Nov 2024". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
26. ^ DHL and Etihad Cargo increase connectivity through the Middle East Archived 5 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine
27. ^ "Egypt Air Cargo Starting Flights for Lahore - History of PIA - Forum".
28. ^ "SF Airlines launches China-Pakistan intl air cargo route". China Daily. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
29. ^ "New cargo air service links Lahore, Lanzhou in NW China". The Nation. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
30. ^ Statistical Information of CAA Pakistan Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine CAA Pakistan, assessed 8 March 2009
31. ^ "Allama Iqbal International Airport Tops in Services – History of PIA – Forum". Historyofpia.com. Retrieved 17 February 2019.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Allama Iqbal International Airport at Wikimedia Commons

* Airport information in Pakistan
* Allama Iqbal Int'l Airport information
* Allama Iqbal International Airport
* Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore
* Accident history for LHE at Aviation Safety Network
* Aeronautical chart and airport information for OPLA at SkyVector
* Current weather for OPLA at NOAA/NWS

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