PIA expands Pakistan-London connectivity with daily flights from October
Five services will depart from Islamabad, with two operating from Lahore
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will begin operating daily flights to London from October 27, increasing its weekly services to the British capital from four to seven, the national carrier said on Wednesday.
The revised schedule will add three more weekly flights to one of Pakistan’s key international routes. PIA said the increase reflects rising passenger demand and growing confidence in its international operations.
Under the new schedule, five flights a week will operate from Islamabad, while two will depart from Lahore for London. The expanded frequency will provide at least one direct PIA service to London every day, strengthening air links between Pakistan and the UK.
The carrier currently operates direct London services from both Islamabad and Lahore, with its Heathrow operations running from Terminal 4 since March. The increase comes as PIA continues rebuilding its international network following the lifting of restrictions that had prevented it from serving several major markets.
Rising demand
PIA said the higher frequency reflects increased passenger demand for its London services. Britain has a large Pakistani community, making direct air connectivity between the two countries an important international route for the national carrier.
365 days. 365 flights. Countless reasons to come home to your loved ones.
— PIA (@Official_PIA) September 2, 2026
From 27 October 2026, fly daily between London & Pakistan.#PIA #londontoPakistan #Pakistantolondon #UKDiaries #DailyFlights #everyone #FlyPIA #followers #Booknow #Travelwithus #unitedkingdom pic.twitter.com/wGrdBDWDUS
The expansion also follows the airline’s gradual return to European and British markets after a prolonged period of restrictions. Pakistani airlines were barred from flying to the European Union, the UK and the US in June 2020 following the crash of a PIA aircraft in Karachi, which killed nearly 100 people.
The European Union Air Safety Agency had suspended PIA’s authorisation to operate in EU countries over safety concerns. The restrictions followed then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan’s statement in parliament describing some Pakistani pilots’ licences as “dubious”.
UK return
The European agency lifted its ban on PIA on November 28, 2024, after more than four years. In July 2025, the UK removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, enabling Pakistani airlines to seek approval to resume operations in Britain.
PIA received approval to restart direct UK flights in September 2025, ending a gap of nearly five years. Manchester became the airline’s first UK destination following the return.
The national carrier subsequently resumed direct flights to London in March 2026, operating services from Islamabad and Lahore. The latest schedule increase will now take London operations to seven flights a week from October 27, with the additional services divided between the two Pakistani cities.