Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Saturday announced the resumption of flights to the United Kingdom from October 25.
The announcement brought relief for thousands of passengers who had long relied on connecting flights to reach British destinations.
According to details, the UK Civil Aviation Authority has issued a Foreign Aircraft Operating Permit. The Pakistani High Commission in the UK stated that this was the final document required for commercial flights between the two countries.
In the first phase, flights to Manchester will resume, while in the second phase, Birmingham and London will also be included in operations.
The airline will restart its UK operations with two weekly flights between Islamabad and Manchester. The service will operate on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
Flights from Islamabad will depart at 12 noon, arriving in Manchester at 5 pm local time. The return flight will leave Manchester at 7 pm and land in Islamabad at 7 am the next morning.
Last month, PIA also received the Third Country Operator (TCO) approval for the United Kingdom, which allows the airline to carry both passengers and cargo directly. Back in July, the UK’s Air Safety Committee lifted its restrictions on Pakistani carriers after reviewing improvements in air safety standards.
Before the suspension in 2020, the airline used to operate 21 weekly flights to the UK, including 10 to London, nine to Manchester, and two to Birmingham.
