Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport will shut both runways to commercial flights for three hours every day over a 70-day stretch, from July 5 to September 15, Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said on Wednesday, attributing the move to heightened bird activity during monsoon season.
The authority said that bird presence around the airport, especially below 3,000 feet, rises sharply in monsoon months, adding that pilots have been told to stay extra alert while approaching or departing the airport during this period.
Airlines have also been directed to carry enough fuel to cover any expected delays on the ground or in the air, the authority added.
The PAA said that from July 5 to September 15, 2026, both runways would be off-limits daily between 5am and 8am, the window when bird activity peaks, while regular commercial flights would continue outside these hours. It said that runways would still be opened for emergency landings if needed.
A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued to formalise the restriction.
The authority said that it aims to keep safety standards high while keeping disruption to passengers and airlines to a minimum.
Meanwhile, a new monsoon spell is expected to hit the country from early July, with the Meteorological Department forecasting rain in Lahore between July 1 and July 6.
