PAA restricts Lahore airport runway operations during peak monsoon bird activity

Commercial flight operations at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport will be temporarily rescheduled during the upcoming monsoon season after the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) announced daily restrictions on the use of both runways because of heightened bird activity.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the PAA said both runways will remain unavailable for scheduled commercial flights every day from 5:00am to 8:00am between July 5 and September 15, a period spanning 70 days when bird movement around the airport is expected to be at its highest.

The authority clarified that commercial flights will continue to operate outside the restricted hours, while the runways will be opened immediately for emergency landings if required.

To implement the temporary operational changes, the PAA has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and instructed airlines to plan their operations accordingly.

The aviation regulator said the precautionary measures have been introduced because bird activity around the airport, particularly below an altitude of 3,000 feet, increases considerably during the monsoon season, raising the likelihood of bird strikes during aircraft arrivals and departures.

Pilots have been directed to exercise heightened vigilance during take-off and landing, while airlines have been advised to carry adequate fuel to accommodate any possible airborne or ground holding.

The PAA said the temporary restrictions are aimed at maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety while keeping inconvenience to passengers and airline operators to a minimum.

The announcement comes as the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasts another spell of monsoon rainfall across the country during the first week of July. In Lahore, rain is expected between July 1 and July 6, coinciding with the seasonal increase in bird activity around the airport.