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Closure of Lahore runway

CAA finalises arrangements

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has finalised all arrangements to meet the situation arising out of the closure of the main runway at the Lahore airport from 20th of this month.

The main runway, which is for the landing and take off of 747s and other big aircrafts, is being closed for operations from April 20 for jointing it with the under construction new terminal at the airport. The runway will remain closed for 10 weeks.

The under construction terminal, which is located east of the old terminal, has to be jointed with the main runway from three-four points. For this purpose, according to the aviation experts, about 25 feet strip alongside the main runway will be excavated and then reconstructed to annex it with the new terminal building.

However, the other runway, which is for handling airbus and other small aircrafts will remain operational according to their schedule, sources said.

The CAA has already conveyed to all the airlines operating 747s and other big aircrafts like Jumbos etc., in this regard, asking to make alternate arrangements well before April 20, to avoid any kind of inconvenience.

The national flag carrier, PIA, has already chalked out a plan for alternate arrangements, while the foreign airlines are also making similar preparations. Private carriers, such as Bhoja Ailines, Aero Asia and Safe Air, will not be affected by the closure of the runway, as they operate with small aircraft and do not use it.

The CAA, it is learnt, is determined to complete the new terminal being constructed at a cost of Rs 10 billion, within the stipulated time and make it operational by the end of the current year.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has also directed the Aviation Authority to expedite work on the under construction terminal and complete it within the scheduled time frame.