New terminal to be built at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal airport

The Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore is set to undergo a expansion with the construction of a new terminal aimed at enhancing passenger experience and alleviating congestion.

The project, announced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), is scheduled for completion by September 2026.

Once completed, the new terminal will have the capacity to accommodate over 12 million passengers annually. Currently, the airport handles approximately 5 to 5.5 million passengers per year, with 48 to 55 daily flights.

The expansion aims to meet rising demand, particularly as international travel resumes and flights to Europe and the UK increase.

The new terminal will mainly serve domestic flights, while the existing terminal will be dedicated to international travel.

The expansion is designed to address the airport’s needs for the next 15 to 20 years, ensuring improved facilities for both domestic and international travelers, including those traveling for Hajj and Umrah.

The new terminal will feature substantial upgrades, including a sixfold increase in immigration counters and a threefold boost in baggage handling capacity. Key improvements include:

• Departure immigration counters: Expanding from 10 to 64
• Arrival immigration counters: Increasing from 18 to 80
• Security checks: Doubling from 4 to 8
• Check-in counters: Rising from 25 to 67
• Customs inspection points: Growing from 12 to 24
• Passenger boarding bridges: Expanding from 4 to 6
• Baggage conveyor belts: Increasing from 2 to 6