Allama Iqbal International Airport

This article is about Pakistan airport whose IATA Code is LHE. For Lionsgate home video arm also known as LHE, see Lionsgate Home Entertainment.
Allama Iqbal International Airport
علامہ اقبال بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا
IATA: LHE – ICAO: OPLA
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
Serves Lahore
Location Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Hub for
Elevation AMSL 698 ft / 213 m
Coordinates 31°31′17″N 074°24′12″E / 31.52139°N 74.40333°E / 31.52139; 74.40333Coordinates: 31°31′17″N 074°24′12″E / 31.52139°N 74.40333°E / 31.52139; 74.40333
Website http://lahoreairport.com.pk
Maps

Location of airport in Lahore
LHE

Location of airport in Pakistan

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18R/36L 9,514 2,900 Asphalt
18L/36R 11,024 3,310 Concrete
Statistics (2015)
Passengers 4,572,190
Movements 56,358
Cargo tonnage 68,745
Source: World Aero Data DAFIF[1][2]
Statistics from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority[3]

Allama Iqbal International Airport, (Urdu: علامہ اقبال بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا‎) (IATA: LHE, ICAO: OPLA) is the second largest civil airport in Pakistan, serving Lahore, the capital of Punjab province as well a large portion of the travellers from the Punjab province. Originally known as Lahore International Airport, it was renamed after Allama Iqbal, one of the pioneers that led to the creation of Pakistan.

The airport currently has three terminals: the Allama Iqbal terminal, the Hajj terminal and a cargo terminal. The airport is located about 15 km from the centre of the city. A total of 3,192,904 passengers travelled through Allama Iqbal International Airport in 2009 making it the second busiest airport in Pakistan.[4]

History

Post independence

At the time of the Independence of Pakistan, Walton Airport was the main airport of Lahore. When Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) acquired its first Boeing 720 Walton was unable to handle the load of a jet aircraft. The Government of Pakistan decided to build a brand new airport, which opened in 1962.[5] The airport had a specifically built runway and apron to handle aircraft up to the Boeing 747. This allowed Lahore to open its gates to the world.[6] PIA initiated direct flights to Dubai and London via Karachi.

AIIA Terminal

Over the course of the next twenty five years the demand for air travel rose. It meant that the government had to build a new airport to meet the growing needs for of the region. In March 2003, a new terminal was inaugurated by 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 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 $70m 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 systems implementation. Airsys ATM and Thales ATM were responsible for the fabrication and installation of the air bridges at the new terminal.[7]

In 2008, the national flag carrier of the UAE, Etihad Airways, opened a dedicated aircraft line maintenance facility in Lahore. The facility is equipped with the latest technology and equipment, which will be used for all day-to-day technical line maintenance on Etihad aircraft including hydraulic structural and instrument checks.[8]

Expansion Plans

On 3 March 2014, the Prime Minister approved the expansion plans for the extension of the AIIA terminal.[9] On 8 February 2015, the Hajj terminal was completely renovated with new check in, lounges and security facilities in anticipation of the Hajj season.[10]

At the inauguration of Multan International Airport in 2015, the Prime Minister, announced that both sides of the terminal will be extended. The airport will have a separate terminal for domestic passengers.[11] It was also announced that a new wide body aircraft hangar would be built at the airport to accommodate aircraft as large as the Boeing 777.[12]

Structure

PIA Boeing 747
Saudia Boeing 747
PIA, Airblue & Uzbekistan

LHE is fitted with all the essentials for domestic and international flights. The information below is correct as of April 2015 in regard to the AIIA Terminal.[13]

Lounges
Apron
Runway

[14]

Airport Services
Ground Handling Agents
Additional

Airlines and destinations

Allama Iqbal International Airport connects Lahore with many cities worldwide (including domestic destinations) by both passenger and cargo flights.

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Air Arabia Ras al Khaimah
Airblue Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Dubai–International, Jeddah, Karachi, Medina, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah, Sialkot
Emirates Dubai–International
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi
Gulf Air Bahrain
Kuwait Airways Kuwait
Malindo Air Kuala Lumpur–International
Oman Air Muscat
Pakistan International Airlines Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Barcelona (resumes 13 December 2016),[15] Beijing–Capital, Copenhagen, Dammam, Delhi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Doha, Dubai–International, Islamabad, Jeddah, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur–International, Kuwait, London–Heathrow, Manchester, Medina, Milan–Malpensa, Multan, Muscat, New York–JFK, Oslo–Gardermoen, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Quetta, Rahim Yar Khan, Riyadh, Salalah (begins 1 December 2016),[16] Tokyo-Narita, Toronto–Pearson
Qatar Airways Doha
Saudia Riyadh, Jeddah
Shaheen Air Abu Dhabi, Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi,[17] Dammam, Dubai–International, Guangzhou, Jeddah, Karachi, Kuwait, Mashhad, Muscat, Quetta, Riyadh
SriLankan Airlines Colombo
Taban Air Mashhad
Thai Airways Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi
Turkish Airlines Istanbul–Atatürk

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
DHL International Aviation ME Abu Dhabi, Bahrain[18]
FitsAir Colombo
Maximus Air Cargo Abu Dhabi, Dubai–International
MNG Airlines Abu Dhabi, Kabul
Qatar Airways Cargo Colombo, Doha
Royal Airlines Cargo Karachi
Star Air Aviation Karachi
TCS Couriers Dubai–International, Islamabad, Karachi
Turkish Airlines Cargo Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Istanbul–Atatürk

Statistics

The following table provides details of the major traffic flows out of Lahore in terms of passenger numbers, aircraft movements, cargo and mail. The results were collected by the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan:[19]

Year Aircraft movements Passengers (Intl & Domestic) Cargo handled (M. Tons) Mail handled (M. Tons)
2001 26,518 2,600,000 52,612 N/A
2005 27,716 5,157,354 N/A N/A
2006 43,775 3,189,161 79,894 680.16
2007 39,634 3,091,590 74,664 1,683.79
2008 49,491 3,192,904 75,965 1,113.41

Awards and recognitions

Accidents and incidents

See also

References

  1. ↑ Airport information for OPLA at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.Source: DAFIF.
  2. ↑ Airport information for LHE at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
  3. ↑ Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority "Airport Statistics" (PDF).
  4. ↑ caapakistan.com.pk – Airport Statistics
  5. ↑ http://www.historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18765 March 27, 1961 News Report - Lahore to Have a New Airport
  6. ↑ http://www.historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18765 Pictorial history of Lahore Airport.
  7. ↑ http://www.airport-technology.com/projects/lahore/ Allama Iqbal International Terminal Under Construction
  8. ↑ Etihad Airways opens dedicated aircraft line maintenance facility in Lahore Pakistan Archived 20090904000000 at WebCite
  9. ↑ http://www.dawn.com/news/1090701/pm-approves-plan-for-pias-revival PM approves plan for PIA’s revival
  10. ↑ https://twitter.com/aftabgilani73/status/566503143194644483 Lahore Airport Hajj Lounge after upgradation
  11. ↑ http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/03/20/business/pm-launches-civil-aviation-policy-directs-expansion-of-lahore-airport/ PM launches Civil Aviation Policy; directs expansion of Lahore Airport
  12. ↑ https://twitter.com/aftabgilani73/status/571987334276624385 Aftab Gilani Maintenance,Repair,Overhaul facility for Boeing 777&A-320 will be established at Lahore through tax free investments
  13. ↑ http://www.lahoreairport.com.pk/departure.html The official website to AIIA
  14. ↑ http://tns.thenews.com.pk/pakistan-international-airlines-fogbound-losses/ PIA fogbound losses. Lahore to be upgraded to CAT III
  15. ↑ PIA advertisement promoting Barcelona resumption
  16. ↑ http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/269378/pakistan-international-w16-international-route-additions/
  17. ↑ "Shaheen Air Schedules Bangkok Launch from late-May 2016". airlineroute. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  18. ↑ DHL and Etihad Cargo increase connectivity through the Middle East Archived 5 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  19. ↑ Statistical Information of CAA Pakistan Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine. CAA Pakistan, assessed 8 March 2009
  20. ↑ http://www.historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10200&view=next Allama Iqbal International Airport Tops In Services
  21. ↑ http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19840705-0 Indian Airlines Airbus A300 (registration unknown) suffered an accident Lahore Airport (LHE), Pakistan 5 July 1984

Notes

External links

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