KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is all set to resume direct flights to London Heathrow later this month, marking a significant step in the carrier’s return to the United Kingdom after years of regulatory hurdles.
Beginning March 29, 2026, PIA will operate four weekly services between Islamabad and London Heathrow’s Terminal 4, flying on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. A day later, on March 30, the airline will also launch a weekly Lahore–London service, initially scheduled for Mondays. Together with the Manchester flights already running since October 2025, the new services will bring PIA’s total weekly operations to the UK to around seven.
It is pertinent to mention here that London has long carried historical and emotional significance for the airline and the Pakistani diaspora, and it was PIA’s very first international destination decades ago and has remained one of its most profitable routes, serving thousands of families with ties across Britain.
And, not to forget, the resumption follows a series of regulatory clearances.
In November 2024, the European Union lifted its ban after four years of safety improvements. By July 2025, the UK removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, paving the way for PIA to apply for flights. In September 2025, the airline received formal UK approval, and the first phase of its UK return began in October with direct Manchester flights. Plans to restore London services were announced in late 2025, beginning with Islamabad and then Lahore.
Officials say the flights are likely to be operated on wide-body aircraft, likely Boeing 777s, and have already generated strong bookings amid pent-up demand.
