Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Resumes Direct Flights: Islamabad to Manchester After Five-Year Hiatus
Islamabad, October 26, 2025 — Pakistan’s national flag carrier PIA has officially resumed direct flights between Islamabad and Manchester, marking its return to the United Kingdom after a gap of more than five years.
The Background
PIA’s operations to the UK were suspended in July 2020 following serious aviation-safety concerns, including revelations of pilots with fake licences and a fatal crash in Karachi that killed nearly 100 people.
After extensive reforms and regulatory clearances, the airline regained approval for UK operations. The UK’s civil aviation authority granted the Foreign Aircraft Operating Permit and Third Country Operator (TCO) approval.
The first direct flight took off on October 25 2025, carrying 284 passengers on the Islamabad–Manchester route.
Significance of the Relaunch
The return of direct UK flights is considered a major milestone not only for PIA but for Pakistan’s aviation sector as a whole. The restoration of this route signals confidence by UK regulators in Pakistan’s aviation safety oversight.
The route serves a large community of Pakistani-origin travellers living in the UK and Europe — providing direct connectivity that had been missing for years.
From a geopolitical and economic viewpoint, improved air links strengthen cultural ties, facilitate trade, assist tourism, and support Pakistan’s national carrier in rebuilding.
Operational Details
Initially, PIA will operate two weekly flights on the Islamabad–Manchester route (Tuesdays and Saturdays) in its relaunch phase.
The schedule anticipates future expansion to other UK destinations such as London and Birmingham in the next phase.
According to PIA’s spokesperson, fares have been opened for booking, and improved connectivity will reduce travel time significantly — for example, from 15 hours via stop-overs to approximately 8 hours direct.
Statements from Officials
At the inaugural ceremony at Islamabad International Airport, Defence & Aviation Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said:
“After a long and difficult delay of five years, today the resumption of flights from Islamabad to Manchester is a feat we have achieved through our hard work and determination.”
He further noted that the government had “completely restructured pilot training, the licensing system, aircraft maintenance, and safety protocols” to meet international standards.
The British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, described it as “a genuine joy to wave off the first flight by a Pakistani carrier to the UK in five years.”
What This Means for Travellers & PIA
For travellers, especially the Pakistani diaspora in the UK, the availability of a direct flight simplifies travel planning, reduces transit times, and potentially cuts fares.
For PIA, the relaunch is a strategic step in restoring its global route network, improving its brand, and supporting broader efforts to revive the airline financially. The restoration also strengthens Pakistan’s positioning in its ongoing privatisation discussions.
For the aviation sector, this signals that Pakistan’s regulatory bodies and carrier operations are now meeting internationally recognized standards — a prerequisite for reinstating suspended routes and gaining trust from foreign regulators.
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Remaining Challenges
Although the route is resumed, PIA must maintain consistent safety, punctuality and service standards to sustain this re-entry. Minister Asif emphasised this in his remarks.
Expansion to other UK destinations (London, Birmingham) is “planned” but not yet fully scheduled — bookings and regulatory clearances will determine pace.
PIA’s underlying financial woes and legacy inefficiencies remain; this route relaunch is a positive sign but only one step in a broader recovery.
