Pakistan’s Airblue cleared for UK flights with new Islamabad–Leeds route
Airline to launch first UK flights in November via Istanbul
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s private airline Airblue has received the Third Country Operator (TCO) licence from Britain’s Department for Transport, enabling it to operate direct flights between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Reports in local media say the airline is set to launch services in November, beginning with flights from Islamabad to Leeds via Istanbul.
The development comes just weeks after Britain removed Pakistan from its aviation safety blacklist, ending a five-year suspension. The move has opened doors for Pakistani airlines to resume operations in the UK
How will Airblue operate?
Airblue plans to use its Airbus A320 and A321 fleet for the new UK routes. Flights will make a technical stop in Türkiye before proceeding to Britain, ensuring efficient operations on the long-haul segment. Initial services will focus on Leeds, with Manchester tipped as the next destination. Discussions are also under way regarding potential landing rights at Heathrow.
Airblue had first applied to the UK Civil Aviation Authority in July, originally requesting approval for Islamabad–Manchester services. Its successful licence application gives it a head start over PIA in re-establishing a presence in the lucrative UK market.
Discount on UAE flights
In addition to its upcoming UK operations, Airblue has rolled out limited-time promotional fares on its busy Pakistan-United Arab Emirates routes. From 15 September to 15 November 2025, passengers booking via the airline’s website or mobile app can claim savings using dedicated promo codes.
Travellers flying from Pakistan to the UAE can save PKR 1,500 on one-way journeys and PKR 3,000 on return tickets with the code PAKUAE25. For flights from the UAE to Pakistan, passengers can secure Dh20 off one-way and Dh40 off return fares using the code UAEPAK25.
The promotion applies to Airblue’s 57 weekly flights linking Pakistan and the UAE, offering frequent, affordable options for both business and leisure passengers.