ISLAMABAD — Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume direct flights to London from March 29, 2026, marking the end of a six-year suspension of operations on one of its most significant international routes.
Read More: PIA boosts UK operations with Lahore-London flights
According to a PIA statement, the airline will operate four weekly non-stop flights from Islamabad and Lahore to London, offering passengers faster and more convenient travel options. The flights will land at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4 and will be operated using Boeing 777 aircraft.
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A spokesperson for the airline said the move reflects PIA’s broader strategy to expand its presence in the United Kingdom, which remains one of its key markets. “London was PIA’s first-ever international destination and continues to be one of our most important routes,” the spokesperson noted. Prior to the suspension in 2020, the airline operated up to 10 weekly flights to London.
The UK had imposed a ban on PIA flights in July 2020 following concerns raised about pilot licensing standards. Since then, the airline has undertaken reforms and gradually worked towards restoring international confidence. Partial operations to the UK resumed in October 2025, with authorities acknowledging improvements in safety and regulatory compliance.
The resumption of full-scale services is expected to benefit the large Pakistani diaspora in the UK by providing direct and reliable travel options.
Read More: PIA resumes flight operations to UK after five-year hiatus
Separately, PIA has introduced an Air–Rail service in partnership with rail networks in Canada and the UK. This initiative allows passengers to book a single ticket for both air and train travel, enabling seamless onward journeys from major airports.
Under this system, passengers flying to Toronto can continue to eight Canadian cities without separate bookings, improving travel efficiency and coordination between air and rail schedules.