Lahore Airport encountered a series of disruptions on Sunday, primarily attributed to dense fog and cold weather gripping the region, including the provincial capital of Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous area. The adverse weather conditions, as predicted by the local weather office, led to over a dozen flight delays and cancellations, causing considerable inconvenience for passengers.
Among the impacted flights, Saudi Airlines faced setbacks, with the cancellation of SV-738 from the Saudi port city to Punjab’s capital and the LHE-JED flight SV-739 due to poor visibility on the runway caused by the thick fog. Airblue’s flight PA-471 from Saudi to Lahore encountered a significant 12-hour delay, sparking disputes between frustrated passengers and airport staff.
International flights from the UAE, including PA-431 and PA-411 from Saudi to Lahore, experienced delays of 12 and 5 hours, respectively. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was also affected, with PK-940 from Jeddah to Lahore and PK-765 from Lahore to Riyadh facing delays. Additionally, domestic flights operated by AirSial (PF-721 and PF-144) encountered delays, adding to the overall disruption.
Saudi Air’s SV-734 from Jeddah to Lahore and Turkish Airlines’ PK-715 were among the affected international flights due to the challenging foggy conditions. The persistence of the cold wave further complicated the situation, extending the period of disruption. Passengers, grappling with the uncertainties and delays, found themselves caught in the aftermath of the weather-induced chaos, highlighting the intricate challenges that adverse weather conditions can pose to airport operations and air travel.
