KEY POINTS
- All Lahore–London services will operate via Heathrow Airport, starting March 30
- Weekly flights to UK will rise to seven with addition of Islamabad–London services from March 29
- The restoration of high-yield international routes is central to its privatisation process
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines has announced the resumption of direct flights from Lahore to London after a six-year hiatus, with the first flight scheduled to depart on March 30, a spokesperson said on Thursday.
The airline stated that the service, operating as PK-757, will land at London’s Heathrow Airport, Terminal 4.
The reopening of the Lahore–London route represents a major step in rebuilding its long-haul international network, the spokesperson added.
London was among the airline’s earliest overseas destinations and remains one of its most commercially significant routes due to sustained passenger demand and strong ties with the Pakistani community in the United Kingdom.
With the addition of the Lahore–London service, the airline’s total weekly flights to the UK will increase to seven. This includes three weekly flights from Islamabad to London, which are scheduled to begin on March 29, restoring Pakistan’s connectivity to the two largest cities.
Before international operations were curtailed, the airline was operating 10 weekly flights from Pakistan to London. Officials say capacity on the route will be increased gradually, subject to demand, fleet availability and regulatory clearances.
The revival of UK flights is also closely linked to the national flag carrier’s ongoing privatisation process. The government received Rs 135 billion (nearly $500m) as the highest bid for PIA last month from the Arif Habib-led consortium.
The government’s ongoing efforts to restructure and privatise the national airline. Islamabad has repeatedly stated that restoring profitable international routes, particularly to Europe and the United Kingdom, is essential to improving the carrier’s financial outlook and market valuation ahead of a planned sale.
Government officials view the return to major destinations such as London as critical for boosting revenues, improving load factors, and strengthening confidence among potential investors, as part of a broader push to reform state-owned enterprises.
