British Airways flights resume after a decade

ISLAMABAD: More than a decade after halting operations, the British Airways returned to Pakistan, with its Boeing 787 Dreamliner ferrying 240 passengers from Heathrow to Islamabad on Monday morning.

The return of the British carrier is a major vote of confidence from a Western airline after suspending operations due to security fears over a decade ago. The British carrier will fly thrice a week between Heathrow and Islamabad during the 2019 summer.

The aircraft touched down at Islamabad International Airport (IIA) at 9:15am Monday morning and took off for two hours later.

Unprecedented security, including more than 600 police, Quick Response Force units and snipers were in place at the time of the flight's arrival.

Touch down in Islamabad. ⁦@British_Airways⁩ has landed. pic.twitter.com/T0BTMqpZyN

— Thomas Drew (@TomDrewUK) June 3, 2019

The passengers were welcomed by Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Razak Dawood, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfiqar Bukhari and officials of the Aviation Division and the British High Commission.

British Airways had halted services in 2008, following the deadly Marriott Hotel bombing in Islamabad. It had six weekly flights to Islamabad before the attack, which killed more than 50 people and triggered a major drawdown by embassies and international agencies over safety concerns.

"Britain's flag carrier is back. The two countries, so close in so many ways, take a step closer," British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Thomas Drew, said in a statement. "It is of course tribute to the great improvements in the security situation in Pakistan in recent years."

Britain is the home to more than a million people of Pakistani-origin, making it the largest Pakistani diaspora community in Europe. The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had until Monday been the only carrier with direct flights between the two countries.

"Return of British Airways is the first step. We will offer and facilitate other airlines to increase international connectivity in Pakistan," Bukhari, told Radio Pakistan, welcoming the arrival of the first flight of the British Airways after a long gap.

Addressing a press conference in the afternoon, Chief Commercial Officer of the airlines, Andrew Brem expressed the desire to start operations in other cities. He said the company wanted to provide more facilities to passengers travelling from Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Dawood said “revival of flights by British Airways is a good omen” for Pakistan. He expressed hope that trade and people-to-people links with the UK will increase with the resumption of BA flights.

The aviation minister said both Pakistan and the UK enjoyed friendly relations and excellent cooperation in various fields. “With the marked improvement in security situation, foreign airlines are expressing interest to start their operations here,” he added.

“We want to turn Islamabad International Airport to a regional air hub,” Khan said. “The Aviation Policy 2019 puts focus on increase in aviation activities for promotion of trade, tourism and international links.”

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the revival of British Airways flights was testimony to the international confidence in the policies of Prime Minister Imran Khan. “Pakistan is moving in the right direction… we have to move ahead on the path to progress with the support of our international friends.”

Separately, Brem called on the prime minister at the PM Office.