‘British Airways return is testament to Pakistan's improving security situation’

UK envoy Thomas Drew posts video message on Twitter a day before airline's first flight set to touch down in...

ISLAMABAD: With British Airways' first flight set to land at the Islamabad airport on Monday (tomorrow) after a decade-long hiatus, British High Commissioner Thomas Drew has said the airline's resuming operations is testament to Pakistan's improving security situation.

The British envoy spoke out via Twitter in a video message, saying: "This is a big day for the UK and Pakistan as the first flight of British Airways new direct service takes off from London's Heathrow, headed here to Islamabad."

Drew added: "Britain's flag carrier is back, the two countries are already so close in so many ways and this will only bring us closer."

He said that British Airways is the first European airline to return to Pakistan after more than 10 years. "This flight is a symbol of the extraordinary links between our two countries, from commerce culture and cricket to people politics and education."

The top diplomat also said, "I see this new service as a vote of confidence in the future of those links it will give a particular boost to trade and investment."

The first flight of British Airways (BA- 261) is set to arrive at the Islamabad International Airport on June 3 at 9:25am.

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Some 240  passengers will arrive by the  Boeing 787 Dreamliner with Pakistani and British flags in their hands, the aviation division's spokesperson said.

The same aircraft, as flight BA- 260, will depart for Heathrow at 11:10am with passengers on board from Islamabad .

Later in the day,  Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdur Razak Dawood and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan along with British Higher Commissioner Thomas Drew,  Chief Commercial Officer British Airways Andrew Brem will hold a joint news conference.

As per the flight programme during the summer season, British Airways will fly thrice a week between Heathrow and Islamabad.

Considering presence of large Pakistani diaspora in the United Kingdom, the BA flights will provide a convenient connection between the two countries.

Several other major air operators have also shown keen interest in initiating operations to the federal capital.

A big day for the UK and Pakistan. @British_Airways first flight on its new direct service to Islamabad takes off from London Heathrow this afternoon. It can look forward to a warm welcome when it lands here tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/S18Jr27QXW

— Thomas Drew (@TomDrewUK) June 2, 2019