British airline to begin operations from Dec 13

British airline Virgin Atlantic Airways has been granted permission to operate to and from Pakistan.

The airline will be operating four direct flights a week from London to Lahore and three from London to Islamabad.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved the airlines’ cargo and passenger flight operations and granted permission for passenger flights from December 13 to March 27.

The Air Transport director issued a notification to the Virgin Atlantic Airways regarding air operations in Lahore and Islamabad. However, the CAA had not granted permission to the airline to operate flights from Manchester to Pakistan.

The airlines will use the latest Airbus332 aircraft for its flights to Pakistan. Its cargo plane will reach Pakistan along with the crew and goods on December 7 and 9.

The first flight of the airline will fly for Lahore from London on December 13 and will reach Allama Iqbal airport in the morning of December 14.

“We’re thrilled to let you know that we’re adding two brand new destinations to our flying schedule. From December, we’ll be flying four times a week from London's Heathrow Airport to Lahore, three times a week from Heathrow to Islamabad, and four times a week from Manchester to Islamabad,” the airline said on its website.

The flight bookings had started in September and the news was first reported in August.

(With input from DNA)