ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to re-launch flights to London on March 29, marking a major step in restoring its UK operations after a six-year suspension, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Mohammad Faisal said on Tuesday.
The development follows PIA’s return to the UK market in October 2025 with flights to Manchester, after British authorities lifted a ban on the airline earlier in July. The carrier is currently operating four weekly flights to Manchester and is now planning to gradually expand its footprint across other UK cities.
“The first flight is landing in London on the 29th,” Faisal said, expressing optimism about increasing frequency in the coming months. He indicated that the airline aims to operate two to three weekly flights to London alongside its existing Manchester schedule.
PIA’s UK operations had been suspended following the May 2020 crash of an Airbus A320 in Karachi that killed 97 people. The incident, coupled with concerns over pilot licensing standards, led to restrictions by UK and European regulators.
Officials say the expansion will be phased, keeping in view the airline’s current financial position. “There is a slight financial crunch, but demand from the Pakistani community remains strong and fares are competitive,” the envoy noted.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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