Asian – Dispatch

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Thursday it has launched direct flights from the eastern city of Lahore to Manchester, with the airline saying the move is expected to strengthen people-to-people connectivity between the two nations. 

The PIA launched direct flights from Islamabad to Manchester in October 2025 and currently operates four flights between the two cities. The launching of direct flights came after Britain removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List last year. Pakistani airlines were barred from flying to

Europe and Britain after a 2020 PIA Airbus A320 crash in Karachi killed nearly 100 people and led to controversial claims about widespread irregularities in pilot licensing. 

The first flight from Manchester to Lahore departed on Wednesday night, the PIA said in a statement without sharing any details. Another flight, PK-709, departed from Lahore for Manchester on Thursday with 325 passengers on board, it said. A ceremony was held at the Lahore airport to see off the flight

“Passengers welcomed the restoration of direct air connectivity between Lahore and Manchester, describing it as a significant development for the Pakistani community living in the United Kingdom,” the PIA statement said. 

The PIA said the direct flights between Lahore and Manchester mark an “important expansion” of the airline’s international network. With the introduction of this new service, PIA now operates five weekly flights between Pakistan and Manchester. Four of these flights fly between Islamabad and Manchester, while one between Manchester and Lahore. 

Pakistan and the UK enjoy cordial relations with each other, with the latter counted among the former’s largest bilateral development partners. The UK is also home to one of the largest Pakistani diasporas, estimated at over 1.6 million people, who contribute significantly to remittances, business and cultural links.

Pakistan’s former national carrier, PIA was privatized in 2025 after a consortium led by the Arif Habib Corporation, which bought 75 percent of the airline’s shares. The airline’s new owner, Arif Habib, has vowed to improve the PIA’s service, expand its international routes and expand the fleet with more aircraft. 

Source: Arab News