Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday announced the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will commence direct flights from Islamabad and Lahore to London Heathrow on March 29 and March 30, respectively.
“I am delighted to announce that PIA is commencing direct flights from Islamabad and Lahore to London Heathrow on March 29 and March 30, 2026, respectively,” he wrote in a post on X.
“Congratulations to the entire Pakistani diaspora in the United Kingdom, elderly people, businessmen and large number of students who would travel with ease on direct flights saving time and money,” he added.
The minister noted efforts to resume the direct flights to London had been ongoing since PIA started direct flights to Manchester in October 2025. “I convey my gratitude to British High Commissioner in Pakistan, Department for Transport U.K., Ministry of Defense, PCAA and PIA for their untiring efforts to achieve this milestone,” he said.
Asif hailed the “timely” privatization of PIA earlier this year, maintaining the nation would “soon” witness an expansion of the airline’s fleet and revival of its network of direct flights to more destinations in the U.K., Europe and Canada. “Our government is also working closely with aviation authority of USA to revive direct flight operations to USA,” he said.
“I wish all stakeholders a brighter future after successful transformation of aviation sector in Pakistan, acknowledged by all international aviation authorities,” he added.
Pakistan lost direct flights to the U.K., Europe and the United States in June 2020 after being placed on an air safety list. The country was removed from the U.K.’s list in July 2025, allowing Pakistani airlines to apply to operate flights in Britain. The ban on operating in Europe was lifted earlier in November 2024.
The ban on Pakistani airlines followed the grounding of 262 pilots whose licenses then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan termed “dubious.”