Lahore Airport Runways to Close Daily Amid Monsoon Bird Risk

Both runways at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport will remain closed for three hours every morning from July 5 to September 15, after aviation authorities identified a heightened bird-strike risk during the monsoon season.

The Pakistan Airports Authority has issued a Notice to Airmen informing airlines, pilots and aviation operators that the daily closure will remain in effect from 5am to 8am for nearly 70 days. Scheduled commercial operations are expected to continue outside the restricted window, but airlines will have to adjust early-morning planning during the period.

The decision has been linked to seasonal bird activity around the airport, particularly during monsoon months when wet conditions, waste exposure and standing water can attract birds near flight paths. Aviation officials have warned that the risk becomes more serious during take-off and landing, especially below 3,000 feet where aircraft are closer to the ground and have less reaction time.

According to the aviation authority, pilots have been advised to exercise additional caution during approach and departure from Lahore. Airlines have also been asked to carry adequate fuel so aircraft can handle possible ground delays or airborne holding if operational conditions require extra waiting time.

The authority has clarified that emergency landings will still be permitted during the closure window, ensuring that safety-related diversions or urgent aircraft movements are not blocked. Officials have said the objective is to reduce preventable risk while keeping disruption to passengers and airlines as limited as possible.

Bird strikes are a serious concern for airports worldwide because even a single collision can damage engines, windscreens or other aircraft parts. The danger is highest when birds gather close to runways, and airports usually respond through habitat control, runway inspections, wildlife management teams and operational restrictions when seasonal risks rise.

The timing of the closure coincides with the start of a fresh monsoon spell in Punjab. Weather authorities have forecast rain in Lahore during the first week of July, a period that can increase bird movement and create conditions that require closer monitoring of airport surroundings, drainage areas and nearby open spaces.

For passengers, the most immediate impact could be schedule changes for early-morning departures and arrivals from Lahore. Travellers flying during the affected weeks may need to check revised timings from airlines before heading to the airport, particularly for connecting flights or international departures with tight onward schedules.

The measure also highlights a wider urban management challenge for major Pakistani airports, where surrounding land use, garbage disposal, water accumulation and dense development can influence aviation safety. Reducing bird activity is not only an airport-level issue but also depends on municipal coordination around cleanliness, drainage and food-waste control near flight corridors.

The coming weeks will test how smoothly airlines, airport managers and passengers adapt to the restriction. If the closure helps lower bird-strike risk during peak monsoon conditions, it may become an important example of seasonal aviation safety planning at one of Pakistan’s busiest airports.