Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced that it will resume direct flights to London in March 2026, marking the end of a six-year suspension of operations on the route.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, the national flag carrier plans to expand its UK network by launching four weekly flights from Islamabad to London starting March 29, 2026. The services will operate from Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4.
A PIA spokesperson said the return to London comes after a prolonged gap and highlighted the city’s historical importance to the airline. London, he noted, was PIA’s first international destination and continues to be one of its most significant routes.
PIA is already operating three weekly flights to Manchester, which were restored earlier as part of a phased return to the UK market.
The airline’s European operations were suspended in June 2020 after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency imposed a ban citing safety concerns, following a deadly crash near Karachi and revelations about questionable pilot licences. The restriction remained in place for over four years before being lifted on November 28, 2024.
In July 2025, the United Kingdom removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, clearing the way for Pakistani airlines to apply for flight operations to Britain. PIA subsequently received approval in September to restart direct UK services, with Manchester flights resuming in the first phase.
At the time, the airline had indicated plans to gradually expand operations to other UK cities, including Birmingham and London, which will now materialise with the launch of the London route in March.
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