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PIA Returns: London Flights Resume After 6-Year Ban
30 Mar
Summary
- PIA flights to London Heathrow resumed on March 29 after a six-year suspension.
- The ban followed a 2020 crash in Karachi that killed 97 people.
- Four weekly flights will operate from Islamabad and Lahore to London.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has recommenced operations to London Heathrow on March 29, following a six-year hiatus. This return comes after a significant suspension that impacted routes across Europe, America, and the UK, stemming from a tragic PIA plane crash in Karachi in 2020 which resulted in 97 fatalities.
The airline will initially operate four weekly flights to London. Three of these will depart from Islamabad, and one will fly from Lahore. The direct route to London Heathrow is expected to take approximately eight hours, catering to families, students, and business travelers.
PIA had previously resumed flights to Europe in 2025 after its extensive ban. The 2020 investigation into the Karachi crash revealed that a substantial portion of Pakistani pilots had allegedly cheated on their exams. A government probe concluded pilot error was the cause, leading to the grounding of 150 pilots suspected of exam irregularities.
Earlier in October, PIA also reinstated routes to Manchester, operating three weekly flights from Islamabad. The airline experienced considerable financial loss, estimated at nearly £123 million annually, due to the ban on its operations.
