Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Thursday the launch of direct flights between Lahore and Manchester, a move expected to enhance people-to-people connectivity between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The first flight from Manchester to Lahore departed on Wednesday night, while the inaugural Lahore-to-Manchester flight, PK-709, departed on Thursday with 325 passengers on board, according to a PIA statement.
Background and Significance
The new service comes after Britain removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List last year, ending a ban that had been in place since 2020. Pakistani airlines were barred from flying to Europe and the UK following a PIA Airbus A320 crash in Karachi that killed nearly 100 people and sparked controversial claims regarding widespread irregularities in pilot licensing.
PIA had previously launched direct flights from Islamabad to Manchester in October 2025 and currently operates four weekly flights between those two cities. With the addition of the Lahore-Manchester route, PIA now operates five weekly flights between Pakistan and Manchester: four from Islamabad and one from Lahore.
Passenger and Community Response
A ceremony was held at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport to see off the flight. According to the PIA statement, “Passengers welcomed the restoration of direct air connectivity between Lahore and Manchester, describing it as a significant development for the Pakistani community living in the United Kingdom.”
The UK is home to one of the largest Pakistani diasporas, estimated at over 1.6 million people, who contribute significantly to remittances, business, and cultural links. Pakistan and the UK enjoy cordial relations, with the UK counted among Pakistan’s largest bilateral development partners.
PIA’s Expansion and Privatization
PIA described the direct flights as an “important expansion” of its international network. The airline was privatized in 2025 after a consortium led by the Arif Habib Corporation purchased 75 percent of its shares. The new owner, Arif Habib, has vowed to improve PIA’s service, expand international routes, and enlarge the fleet with more aircraft.
