Summary PIA said the decision to expand the service was driven by stronger passenger demand and growing confidence among travellers
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to increase its direct flights to London from four to seven per week, with the revised schedule coming into effect on October 27.
According to a statement issued by the airline on Wednesday, five of the weekly flights will operate from Islamabad, while two will serve the Lahore-London route.
PIA said the decision to expand the service was driven by stronger passenger demand and growing confidence among travellers.
The airline had been barred from operating flights to the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States in 2020 following the crash of a PIA aircraft in Karachi that claimed nearly 100 lives.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) subsequently suspended PIA’s operations in EU countries over safety concerns. The restrictions followed then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan’s remarks in parliament that raised questions about the validity of pilots’ licences.
After more than four years, EASA lifted the ban on PIA in November 2024. Britain later removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List in July 2025, paving the way for Pakistani airlines to seek permission to operate in the UK.
PIA secured approval to restart direct services to Britain in September 2025, ending a nearly five-year suspension. Manchester was selected as the airline’s first UK destination.
The airline subsequently resumed direct flights to London in March this year, marking the restoration of another key route for Pakistani travellers.
