A modest UK comeback for Pakistan International Airlines from October 25
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to relaunch its long-awaited UK flight operations later this month. It will begin with a new Islamabad–Manchester service on October 25, the airline confirmed on Tuesday, October 7.
The flights will operate twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, marking PIA’s return to the British market after a five-year hiatus. It is however a modest start compared to the airline’s UK services in the past. Pakistan’s national carrier used to fly up to 5 times weekly to London (Heathrow and Stansted) but also to Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester…
However, according to a Pakistan International Airlines spokesperson, flights to London should follow in the second phase, likely by early November, pending final operational clearances and scheduling approvals. “Our compatriots will now reach their destination in just eight hours instead of a 15-hour journey,” the spokesperson said, adding that the airline is “very enthusiastic about restarting this route.”
The new service will depart Islamabad at 12:00 p.m. and arrive in Manchester at 5:00 p.m. local time. The return leg will leave Manchester at 7:00 p.m. and land in Islamabad at 7:00 a.m. the following day.
A 5-year certification for flight security from UK authorities
The relaunch comes after PIA received crucial regulatory approvals from the UK Department for Transport, which granted the airline Third Country Operator (TCO) status and a five-year certification for flight security and cargo operations. These certifications signify renewed confidence in PIA’s safety and compliance standards. Both had been under scrutiny since the suspension of UK flights in 2020.
PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Amir Hayat praised the milestone as a “testament to the team’s perseverance.” He credited Pakistan’s government, the Ministry of Defence, and the Civil Aviation Authority for their support.
“This achievement marks PIA’s renewed ability to directly connect Pakistan with the UK—revitalizing travel, trade, and community ties,” Hayat said.
In another development, PIA adjusted its flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle. The airline terminated its weekly frequency from Lahore on September 19. Instead the carrier serves Paris each Friday and Sunday from Islamabad with a Boeing B777-200ER.
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