Dense fog severely disrupted air traffic at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, affecting both domestic and international flights as visibility dropped to unsafe levels, aviation sources confirmed on January 18, 2026.
According to airline and airport officials, at least 25 flights were affected due to adverse weather conditions, including seven major international and domestic flights that faced significant delays or cancellations.
Flights Delayed and Cancelled
Among the affected flights, PIA flight PK-847 from Lahore to Dammam experienced delays, while Air Sial flight PF-716 from Lahore to Jeddah remained delayed until 3:30 am.
Similarly, Airblue flight PA-472 from Lahore to Jeddah, originally scheduled to depart at 11:00 pm, was delayed until 9:00 am, while Saudi Airlines flight SV-738 from Jeddah to Lahore was expected to arrive after noon.
In addition, PIA flight PK-748 from Madina to Lahore faced delays until 11:00 am, whereas Airblue flight PA-406 from Karachi to Lahore was cancelled due to poor visibility conditions.
Also Read: Dense fog closes multiple motorways and highways across Punjab
Wider Impact on Air Operations
Airport authorities reported that three flights were cancelled, while others suffered delays ranging from 2 to 15 hours. Flights connecting Karachi, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, Istanbul, Jeddah, and Madina were among those impacted.
Passengers, including a large number of Umrah pilgrims, faced serious inconvenience. Reports also confirmed that some passengers were offloaded from aircraft, including those on a PIA flight to Dammam, due to prolonged delays and security clearance issues.
Long security queues and uncertain departure schedules left dozens of travelers stranded at the airport.
Passenger Advisory Issued
Airlines have advised passengers to check flight schedules in advance, stay in contact with airline helplines, and arrive at the airport only after receiving confirmed updates to avoid further inconvenience.
Authorities stated that flight operations will continue to be closely monitored, as foggy conditions during winter mornings and nights can worsen unexpectedly.
