ISLAMABAD – Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has officially resumed its flight operations to the United Kingdom, marking a significant milestone after a five-year hiatus.
The resumption was inaugurated by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif during a ceremony attended by the British High Commissioner and the Defence Secretary.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Asif highlighted the importance of PIA’s UK operations and noted the financial losses incurred by the government due to the previous suspension. He also acknowledged the pivotal role of the British High Commissioner in facilitating the resumption of these services.
The first direct PIA flight to Manchester departed today at 12:05 PM. The Boeing 777 aircraft, carrying 273 passengers, will operate weekly flights between Islamabad and Manchester, with two services scheduled every week – on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The flight PK 701 will arrive in Manchester at 5:00 PM British time and will depart for Islamabad at 7:00 PM, reaching Islamabad at 7:00 AM the next morning.
In the second phase of operations, PIA will also begin flights to London. The UK and Europe had previously imposed a ban on PIA flights five years ago, which has now been lifted.
