PIA to increase London flights from four to seven per week from Oct 27

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to operate a daily flight to London from October 27, increasing its weekly flights to the British capital from four to seven.

The national carrier will operate five of the flights from Islamabad, while passengers travelling from Lahore will have two weekly options to London.

PIA said the expanded schedule was driven by an increase in demand and greater passenger confidence in its services. The development marks another step in the airline’s return to the UK market after a years-long suspension linked to aviation safety concerns.

PIA and other Pakistani airlines were barred from operating in the European Union, UK and United States in June 2020. The restrictions came shortly after a PIA plane crashed in Karachi, killing nearly 100 people.

The EU’s aviation safety agency had suspended PIA’s operations in European countries following concerns over the safety of Pakistan’s aviation system.

The restrictions were also linked to comments made by then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan in parliament, where he said some Pakistani pilots had “dubious” licences.

After more than four years, the European Union Air Safety Agency removed the restrictions on PIA on November 28, 2024.