For the first time in years, flying between Pakistan and London is about to get a lot easier. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has confirmed it will boost its PIA London flights from four to seven per week starting October 27, 2026 — effectively bringing daily service on the route for the first time since operations resumed earlier this year.
The New Schedule
Under the expanded schedule confirmed by PIA on Wednesday, five flights will depart from Islamabad and two from Lahore each week, bringing the total to seven — effectively one flight per day across the two cities combined. In its statement, the airline attributed the expansion directly to passenger confidence and rising demand on the route since services resumed.
How PIA Got Back to London
This expansion is the latest step in a long comeback story. PIA was banned from flying to the UK, European Union, and United States back in June 2020, after one of its aircraft crashed in Karachi, killing nearly 100 people on board. The disaster was followed by claims that some Pakistani pilots held “dubious” licenses, a statement from the then-aviation minister that triggered international bans and severely damaged the airline’s global reputation.
The recovery began gradually: PIA resumed European flights to Paris in early 2025, followed by direct service to Manchester in October 2025 after the UK Civil Aviation Authority granted the airline Third Country Operator certification. Direct London flights — landing at Heathrow’s Terminal 4 — finally resumed on March 29, 2026, marking a full return to what PIA’s own spokesperson has called one of its “most important and attractive routes,” alongside the airline’s very first international destination.
A Privatized Airline With Fresh Investment
This route expansion also comes against the backdrop of PIA’s privatization. In December 2025, a consortium led by Arif Habib Group secured a 75% stake in the airline for Rs. 135 billion (approximately $482 million), ending years of government efforts to privatize the loss-making national carrier. The new ownership has signaled plans to expand PIA’s fleet and increase frequency on its most popular routes — and this jump from four to seven weekly London flights looks like an early, concrete example of that strategy playing out.
What This Means for Passengers
For the large Pakistani diaspora in the UK, along with business and leisure travelers moving between the two countries, near-daily direct access to London removes a lot of the scheduling friction that came with limited weekly flights. PIA currently operates its London route using Boeing 777 aircraft, offering both Economy and Executive Economy (business class) cabins. Roundtrip fares from the UK to Pakistan have generally started from around £500 plus taxes (roughly PKR 190,000), though exact pricing varies by travel date, route, and booking class.
Part of a Broader UK Route Recovery
London isn’t the only UK route PIA has brought back. The airline also operates direct flights to Manchester, a city with historically strong South Asian travel links. Combined with the increased London frequency, PIA’s UK network is steadily approaching the scale it operated at before the 2020 ban — a meaningful milestone for an airline that spent roughly five years locked out of some of its most valuable international markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do PIA’s daily London flights start?
The increased schedule of seven weekly flights begins October 27, 2026, with five departures from Islamabad and two from Lahore.
Which airport does PIA fly into in London?
PIA’s London flights land at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4.
Why was PIA previously banned from flying to London?
PIA was banned from UK, EU, and US airspace in June 2020 after a fatal Airbus A320 crash in Karachi, followed by concerns over pilot licensing irregularities that led to the bans.
Is PIA still government-owned?
No. PIA was privatized in December 2025, with a consortium led by Arif Habib Group acquiring a 75% stake in the airline.
With direct flights now running almost daily between Pakistan and London, PIA’s UK comeback marks one of the clearest signs yet of the airline’s recovery — both in terms of international trust and its new owners’ ambitions for growth.
