Quick summary
Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport recorded 20+ fog days in December–January 2025, with 22 flights disrupted on a single day (January 10, 2026) and runway visibility dropping to 150 meters. Islamabad’s airport, equipped with CAT IIIB instrument landing systems, reported fewer than 5 fog disruptions in the same period. Flying into Islamabad and driving 4 hours via the M2 Motorway to Lahore costs roughly $62 in transport but saves an estimated 8+ hours versus a fog diversion to Karachi or Muscat.
The fare premium for Islamabad runs 5–10% higher on most international routes, and M2 Motorway fog can extend drive times during peak holiday traffic. The full strategy, cost breakdown, and three scenarios where the routing fails are detailed below.
Lahore-bound international passengers lose an average of 12+ hours when winter fog diverts their flight to Karachi—or worse, to Muscat, Oman, stranding them in a different country entirely. The fix costs $62 and takes 4 hours: fly into Islamabad instead.
Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE) logged 20+ fog or smog days during December–January 2025, with visibility plunging to 150 meters on January 15, 2026. Islamabad International Airport (ISB), 360 kilometers north, reported fewer than 5 comparable disruptions in the same window. Air Traveler Club’s route optimization analysis of Punjab-bound itineraries identifies ISB as the statistically safer gateway for all international travelers arriving between December 1 and January 31, regardless of origin region.
Why Lahore Airport shuts down every winter
The Punjab plain sits in a geographic fog trap. Cold air pooling across flat agricultural land combines with industrial emissions to produce dense radiation fog that blankets Lahore from mid-December through late January. LHE’s runway visibility regularly drops below the 550-meter threshold required for its Category I Instrument Landing System (ILS), forcing controllers to halt arrivals entirely.
On January 10, 2026, 22 domestic and international flights were delayed or diverted at LHE in a single fog event. PIA revised its entire Punjab schedule in December 2025, acknowledging that fog disruptions were not isolated incidents but a seasonal certainty. A 2024 academic study from the University of Management and Technology confirmed winter fog as a chronic operational hazard at LHE, recommending technology upgrades that have yet to materialize.
Diverted flights typically reroute to Karachi (90% of cases), adding a domestic repositioning flight and 12+ hours of total delay. In roughly 1–2% of fog diversions, aircraft land in Muscat, Oman—creating visa complications for passengers without GCC travel documents.
LHE’s upgrade gap
Lahore received CAT I ILS upgrades in 2025, but these still require 550 meters of visibility to operate. Islamabad’s CAT IIIB system handles visibility as low as 75 meters—a sevenfold difference that explains why ISB rarely closes while LHE shuts down repeatedly each winter.
The Islamabad routing: cost and logistics
Islamabad International Airport’s CAT IIIB ILS enables landings in visibility conditions that would ground operations at Lahore for hours. The airport sits on the Pothohar Plateau, elevated above the fog belt that paralyzes Punjab’s lowland airports including Multan, Sialkot, and Faisalabad.
The M2 Motorway connecting Islamabad to Lahore is a 360-kilometer, four-lane divided highway with fog-rated lighting and consistent maintenance. According to Pakistan’s PDMA road advisories and media reporting, the motorway maintains high reliability even during fog episodes, with average speeds of 90 km/h and a typical transit time of 4 hours.
| Factor | Lahore (LHE) Direct | Islamabad (ISB) + Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Fog days (Dec–Jan) | 20+ | <5 |
| Diversion risk | High (22 flights Jan 10) | Low (CAT IIIB) |
| Transfer to Lahore | N/A | 4 hrs (M2 Motorway) |
| Transport cost | $0 | $62 (taxi) or $9 (bus) |
| Worst-case delay | 12+ hrs (KHI diversion) | 5–6 hrs (M2 fog slowdown) |
| Fare premium vs LHE | Baseline | 5–10% higher (~$50–100) |
Ground transport options from ISB include Careem taxi (~$50, bookable via app), Daewoo Express bus (PKR 2,500/~$9, departing every 30 minutes, 4.5-hour journey), and private car hire. The M2 toll runs PKR 3,500 (~$12.50) per vehicle. For travelers whose plans depend on arriving in Lahore on schedule—wedding guests, business meetings, tight onward connections—the $62 total transport cost is trivial insurance against a 12-hour diversion spiral.
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The fare premium and when it pays for itself
International flights into ISB typically cost 5–10% more than equivalent LHE routings—roughly $50–100 on economy fares from the US, Europe, or Australia. This premium reflects ISB’s newer terminal infrastructure and slightly lower carrier competition compared to Lahore’s busier international schedule.
The math favors ISB the moment you factor in disruption costs. A Karachi diversion burns a minimum of 12 hours, often requires rebooking fees ($100+), and may cost a hotel night ($40–80) if the repositioning flight departs the following morning. For travelers using limited vacation days, the equation is even starker: a lost day in Karachi airport is worth far more than $62 in motorway transport. Passengers connecting onward from Lahore to domestic destinations should note that elevated Asia-Pacific airfares in 2025–2026 make rebooking penalties particularly expensive when fog disrupts tight itineraries.
ISB also offers a quieter immigration experience. Travelers report 30-minute processing times at Islamabad’s dedicated international lanes versus 90+ minutes at LHE during fog-chaotic arrivals when multiple diverted flights land simultaneously.
When this strategy breaks down
Three scenarios reduce or eliminate the ISB advantage:
- Peak holiday traffic on M2. During Eid and Christmas week, motorway congestion can extend the drive to 6 hours, and Careem taxi fares spike to PKR 20,000 (~$70). If your Lahore arrival window is tight, the buffer shrinks uncomfortably.
- Mobility-limited passengers. A 4-hour highway drive is impractical for elderly travelers or those with physical disabilities. The domestic ISB–LHE flight alternative (PKR 15,000/~$55) exists but carries its own fog risk on the Lahore end, partially defeating the strategy.
- Same-day domestic connections from LHE. If your itinerary includes an onward domestic flight departing Lahore within 6 hours of your ISB landing, the math collapses. Either rebook the domestic leg from ISB directly, or build an 8-hour minimum buffer to absorb motorway delays.
Additionally, ISB itself is not entirely fog-immune. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa plains occasionally produce low-visibility conditions, though occurrences are dramatically fewer than at LHE. Check the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s weekly outlook before departure to confirm conditions.
Booking the smarter routing
Search international flights into both ISB and LHE simultaneously using Google Flights’ multi-airport feature. Compare the fare differential against the $62–70 ground transport cost. If the ISB premium is under $100, the routing pays for itself in schedule reliability alone.
For travelers hunting the lowest fares on Pakistan routes during winter, our AI-powered Superdeal detection system monitors pricing anomalies across carriers serving both ISB and LHE, often surfacing temporary drops on routes where airlines add winter capacity. Pre-book Daewoo Express or Careem for the ISB–Lahore leg before departure—availability tightens during peak fog season as more informed travelers adopt this strategy.
PIA allows free rebooking for weather disruptions up to 72 hours before departure, so travelers who initially booked LHE can sometimes switch to ISB without penalty once fog forecasts confirm the risk.
Questions? Answers.
Does Islamabad Airport ever close completely due to winter fog?
Rarely. ISB’s CAT IIIB ILS handles visibility down to 75 meters, compared to LHE’s CAT I system requiring 550 meters. ISB recorded fewer than 5 fog disruption days in December–January 2025, versus LHE’s 20+. Complete closure is possible but statistically uncommon.
How do I book ISB-to-Lahore ground transport in advance?
Daewoo Express buses depart ISB every 30 minutes (PKR 2,500/~$9, 4.5 hours) and can be booked online. Careem taxi (~$50) is bookable via the app with fare estimates shown before confirmation. Private car hire through hotel concierges typically costs $60–80 with a driver.
Does flying into ISB instead of LHE affect my Pakistan visa?
No. Pakistan’s e-visa and visa-on-arrival policies apply identically at both airports. ISB’s newer terminal often processes immigration faster—approximately 30 minutes versus 90+ minutes at LHE during fog-disrupted arrivals.
What about other Punjab airports like Multan or Sialkot?
Both are equally fog-prone as Lahore and lack ISB’s advanced ILS equipment. PIA revised schedules across all Punjab airports during December 2025 fog events. ISB remains the only reliable winter gateway for the entire Punjab region.
Is the M2 Motorway safe to drive at night during fog season?
The M2 is a four-lane divided highway with fog-rated lighting and PDMA-rated high reliability. Night driving is common and generally safe, though speeds may drop to 60–70 km/h in heavy fog patches, extending the journey to 5–5.5 hours. Avoid single-lane alternative routes entirely.
Can I claim compensation if my LHE flight is diverted due to fog?
Weather diversions are classified as extraordinary circumstances under most airline policies, meaning carriers are not obligated to pay compensation. Rebooking fees and hotel costs during diversions typically fall on the passenger. PIA offers free rebooking within 72 hours of weather-affected flights, but other carriers vary.
