ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will operate direct flights from Islamabad and Lahore to London’s Heathrow Airport this month, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Thursday, saying Islamabad was working to revive direct flight operations to the US as well.
PIA resumed its UK operations in October 2025 with an inaugural flight to Manchester. The airline is currently operating four weekly flights to the city after Britain lifted a ban on the PIA in July last year.
The ban was imposed after a deadly PIA Airbus A320 crash in Karachi killed 97 people in May 2020. The disaster was followed by allegations of irregularities in pilot licensing, also leading to bans by the United States (US) and the European Union (EU).
The recently privatized PIA will commence direct flights from Islamabad and Lahore to London’s Heathrow Airport on Sunday, Mar. 29, and Monday, Mar. 30 respectively, Asif wrote on social media platform X.
“Congratulations to the entire Pakistani diaspora in the United Kingdom, elderly people, businessmen and large number of students who would travel with ease on direct flights saving time and money,” the minister wrote.
Asif said Pakistanis would soon witness the expansion of the PIA’s fleet and also a revival of its network of direct flights to more destinations in the UK, Europe and Canada.
“Our government is also working closely with the aviation authority of the USA to revive direct flight operations to the USA,” he wrote.
“I wish all stakeholders a brighter future after the successful transformation of the aviation sector in Pakistan, acknowledged by all international aviation authorities,” he added.
In December last year, Pakistan’s government succeeded in its long-standing efforts to privatize the PIA, formerly the country’s national airline, after a consortium led by Arif Habib Group acquired a 75 percent stake in it for Rs135 billion ($482 million), valuing the airline at Rs180 billion ($643 million).
The sale represented Pakistan’s most ambitious attempt in decades to reform the debt-laden airline, which had accumulated more than $2.8 billion in losses. The government said at the time the move would end decades of state-funded bailouts and help revive the carrier.
Shortly after acquiring a 75 percent stake in the airline, Habib had said he planned to renovate planes, improve maintenance and flight schedules, and introduce new aircraft to revive the PIA.
