On Thursday, January 8th, it was announced by the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) that it would be resuming direct Lahore-London flights on March 30.
According to a PIA spokesperson, the airline was enhancing its flights to the United Kingdom.
The spokesperson said that flights to Manchester will be resumed. He also confirmed that flights from Islamabad to London will start from March 29. Lastly, he said that the arrangements for the launch of direct flight from Lahore to London are finalized and the flight will launch from March 30.
Seven flights will be operated from Pakistan to the UK in the month of March.
The flights are being increased due to increased demand and long-standing requests of Pakistanis and Pakistanis living in the UK.
The flights to the UK will be operating on full loads.
The relaunch dates were arranged for consecutive dates due to high demand and the airline’s readiness.
The flight operating from Islamabad to London will be operated 3 times a week, and one flight from Lahore to London will be operated once a week. In the future, more flights will be operated from Pakistan to multiple UK destinations. The flights to London will also be increased gradually.
The airline used to operate more than 22 frequencies to the UK that number is expected to exceed.
This is important as PIA was barred from operating in EU countries since June 2020, due to safety concerns after a flight from Lahore to Karachi crashed. The European Union Air Safety Agency had barred PIA.
The ban was finally lifted after more than four years had passed on November 28, 2024. Pakistan was also removed from the UK’s Air Safety list in July 2025, allowing Pakistani airlines to operate in the UK.
These updates signal a welcome trend. It seems that PIA has started to reclaim its lost prestige.
Also read: PIA announces resumption of London flights after six years
