KARACHI: After years of uncertainty for passengers, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has officially announced the resumption of direct flight operations to the United Kingdom, bringing long-awaited relief for travelers. The service will begin on October 25, initially connecting Islamabad with Manchester twice a week.
According to the airline, flights will depart Islamabad every Saturday and Tuesday at 12 noon, arriving in Manchester at 5 p.m. The return leg will leave Manchester at 7 p.m. and land in Islamabad at 7 a.m. the following morning.
PIA officials said that the service will be gradually expanded, with plans to add routes to London and Birmingham in the second phase. Bookings are already open, with the airline promising highly affordable fares. Officials noted that the resumption will cut travel time to just eight hours, compared to the 15-hour journeys many passengers have been forced to endure on connecting flights.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Muhammad Faisal, confirmed that the UK Civil Aviation Authority has issued the Foreign Aircraft Operating Permit, completing the last step for PIA’s return to British skies. Earlier, the airline had secured third-country operator approval.
Dr. Faisal welcomed the development, highlighting its importance for the 1.7 million-strong Pakistani diaspora in the UK. “The resumption of flights will not only ease travel for our community but also help strengthen ties between the people of Pakistan and the United Kingdom,” he said, while thanking the British CAA for its cooperation.
With this long-awaited comeback, PIA aims to reestablish itself as a vital link between Pakistan and the UK, offering both convenience and affordability for passengers who have faced years of disruption.
