Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has officially announced the resumption of its flight operations to the United Kingdom, marking a major milestone after a five-year hiatus. Starting October 25, the national carrier will launch two weekly flights between Islamabad and Manchester, operating every Saturday and Tuesday.
According to the flight schedule, departures from Islamabad will be at 12 noon, arriving in Manchester at 5:00 PM. Return flights from Manchester will depart at 7:00 PM and land in Islamabad at 7:00 AM, ensuring a total travel time of just eight hours — a significant improvement from the previous 15-hour journeys.
A PIA spokesperson stated that the frequency of Manchester flights will gradually increase over time, while services to London are planned for the second phase of the airline’s UK expansion. “Flights have been opened for booking, and very reasonable fares have been introduced,” the spokesperson added, emphasizing PIA’s commitment to providing comfortable, fully equipped travel facilities for passengers.
The announcement comes a day after the Pakistan High Commission in London confirmed that the UK Civil Aviation Authority has granted the Foreign Aircraft Operating Permit (FOP), the final clearance required to restart commercial operations.
