Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will restart direct flights to London after a six-year hiatus, providing much-needed connectivity for Pakistanis both at home and abroad.
The first flight from Islamabad to London is scheduled for March 29. Lahore-London services will begin on March 30. Initially, PIA will operate four weekly flights to London: threep from Islamabad and one from Lahore, using Boeing 777 aircraft. All flights will arrive at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4.
A PIA spokesperson said the resumption restores a historic route. “PIA has maintained a relationship of over 70 years with the London route, one of our earliest international destinations,” the spokesperson added. With the relaunch, weekly flights to the UK will increase to seven.
Before flights were suspended in 2020, PIA operated 10 weekly services between Pakistan and London. The spokesperson noted that the number of flights will be gradually increased based on passenger demand and operational capacity.
Earlier, In a landmark decision, the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIACL) has been completed, with the winning bidder committing PKR 135 billion for 75% equity in the airline. This deal also marks a significant restructuring effort, clearing the airline of Rs 650 billion in legacy liabilities while injecting a further PKR 125 billion into the airline’s operations. The deal sets the total value of the 100% equity stake at PKR 180 billion, offering the government a substantial Rs 45 billion upside beyond the sale price.
