PIA resumes London flights after six years

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Sunday resumed its London flight operations after a six-year gap, restoring a long-standing route between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

The airline's PK-785 flight departed from Islamabad to the UK's capital carrying 325 passengers. The flight was seen off by Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Muhammad Ali and British High Commissioner Jane Marriott.

A simple but dignified ceremony was held at Islamabad airport before departure, attended by PIA Consortium Chairman Arif Habib and senior aviation officials.

A cake was cut to mark the occasion, while a raffle draw was held in which a 660cc car was awarded to a passenger. Other passengers were also presented with gifts.

Addressing the ceremony, the defence secretary said the resumption of flights would further strengthen ties between the two countries and their people. The British high commissioner congratulated the national flag carrier on restoring its London operations.

PIA said it aims to provide direct travel facilities to more than 1.6 million Pakistanis residing in the UK. Commemorative shields were also presented to distinguished guests by the airline's chief executive officer.

Later, the flight safely landed at Heathrow Airport.

The airline will begin weekly flights from Lahore to London starting March 30. Initially, PIA will operate four weekly flights between Pakistan and London: three from Islamabad and one from Lahore. London was PIA's first international destination, and the airline has a 71-year-old association with the route.

On July 16, 2025, Britain lifted a five-year ban on Pakistani airlines, allowing them to apply to resume flights to and from the UK. PIA was barred from flying to the UK in June 2020, a month after one of its aircraft plunged into a Karachi street, killing 97 people.

The disaster was attributed to human error by the pilots and air traffic control, followed by allegations that nearly a third of its pilots' licences were fake or dubious. Pakistan launched an investigation to examine these claims.

Last year, the UK Air Safety Committee decided to lift the ban following aviation safety improvements in Pakistan. Subsequently, the airline resumed flights to the UK, with flight operations to Manchester resuming in the first phase.

At the time, PIA had said it planned to extend operations to Birmingham and London as well.