The main runway at Islamabad International Airport will undergo a scheduled closure for five hours each day from July 7 to July 17, 2025, to facilitate essential maintenance work aimed at ensuring flight safety, according to airport authorities. The temporary shutdown is part of the airport's regular upkeep program.
Runway Closure Schedule and Reason
Officials confirmed that the runway will be unavailable from 11:00am to 4:00pm daily. During this period, maintenance crews will remove rubber deposits left by aircraft tyres, a routine process critical for maintaining safe runway operations. The removal of rubber buildup helps prevent skidding and ensures optimal friction for landing and takeoff.
Alternate Runway to Handle All Flights
During the maintenance window, all flight operations will be shifted to the airport's alternate runway. This arrangement allows arrivals and departures to continue without a complete suspension of services, minimizing disruption for passengers and airlines. Airport authorities emphasized that the closure is a standard procedure under the airport's maintenance programme to ensure the safe and efficient functioning of its runway system.
Karachi Airport Runway Upgrade Completed
In a separate development, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) recently completed the upgrade of the central runway at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. The 18-month project upgraded Runway 07L/25R to accommodate the world's largest passenger aircraft, including the Airbus A380. This enhancement allows wide-body aircraft to operate from the runway, boosting the airport's operational capacity and improving efficiency for international flights.
Airport Charges and Revenue Use
The PAA also collects airport charges from departing passengers: Rs600 for domestic departures and Rs4,600 for international departures. The revenue generated from these fees is used to improve airport infrastructure, passenger services, and operational efficiency across Pakistan's airports.
