Pakistan International Airlines Adds New Flights to this UK City

dailyblitz.de 6 hours ago

ISLAMABAD— Pakistani flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), has announced that it will launch new nonstop flights to the United Kingdom. The airline will commence flights between Islamabad (ISB) and Manchester (MAN).

The flights will begin on August 16, 2025. The new connection expands Pakistan International Airlines’ UK presence, providing four weekly flights to Northwest England.

Pakistan Airlines Manchester Flights

PIA’s new Islamabad–Manchester service marks the airline’s first UK route after its revised international operations. Notably, this launch does not include London or Birmingham, cities traditionally served by PIA in the past.

The choice of Manchester as the starting point should be due to both operational considerations and the city’s large Pakistani community. It also signals a possible reorientation in the airline’s UK strategy as it restarts long-haul services following recent restructuring efforts.

Manchester has a significant Pakistani population and is a long-standing demand point for direct connectivity with Pakistan. The new route reflects PIA’s attempt to utilize its available long-haul aircraft more efficiently, particularly following adjustments to its fleet and network.

PIA’s Manchester Flight Schedule

Flights will operate four days a week on every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. PIA will be using a Boeing 777-200ER for this route, which has a typical range of over 13,000 kilometers.

PIA’s Boeing 777-200ER has a capacity of 329 seats for passengers, featuring 35 Business Class seats and 294 Economy seats.

Flight PK701 will depart from Islamabad at 12:05 PM PKT and will arrive in Manchester at 5:00 PM GMT.
The return flight, PK702, will depart from Manchester at 7:00 PM GMT and will land in Islamabad at 6:50 AM PKT (next day).

The schedule enables daytime arrival into the UK and early-morning return to Islamabad, potentially benefiting both business and leisure passengers.

PIA’s typical in-flight service includes meals with Pakistani options and basic onboard amenities, subject to aircraft availability and load factors.

The Boeing 777 assigned to this route is one of the airline’s long-range aircraft. While not new, it continues to serve long-haul routes such as Toronto and Paris. PIA also operates its Boeing 777-200ER on medium-haul routes like Jeddah and now extends that reach to Northern England.

Operational Restructuring of PIA

PIA has faced operational constraints in recent years, including aircraft groundings due to maintenance shortfalls and regulatory scrutiny over pilot certification. However, with part of the long-haul fleet now back in service, the airline is working to restore key international links.

The new service eliminates the need for layovers in Istanbul, Doha, or Dubai, which are commonly used for one-stop journeys between Pakistan and Manchester.

Direct flights may particularly benefit students traveling between the UK and Pakistan, Families visiting relatives in both countries, and business travelers seeking quicker turnaround.

Islamabad’s new International Airport has been operational since 2018, offers capacity for long-haul departures, and is equipped for 777 operations. The airport has flights to long-haul and ultra-long-haul destinations such as Paris, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, and Toronto.

Manchester Airport handled over 31 million passengers in 2024. The airport had flights to various parts of the UK and Europe, enabling possible onward travel for arriving passengers.

The scheduled timings align with existing international arrival/departure patterns, which should ease integration into airport operations.

Bottom Line

PIA’s Islamabad–Manchester route is set to launch on August 16, 2025, with bookings expected to open soon. The airline may monitor the route performance and adjust frequencies as per demand.

Future additions to its UK network will likely depend on operational stability, aircraft availability, and bilateral air traffic agreements.

While no additional UK routes have been confirmed, interest in connections to Glasgow, Leeds, or London could be next. For now, the focus remains on ensuring the reliability of the upcoming Manchester route as PIA continues to navigate its post-restructuring phase.

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