ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has launched direct flights between Lahore and Manchester, expanding its UK network and improving air connectivity for the Pakistani diaspora.
The national carrier announced the new route on Thursday. The service follows the launch of direct Islamabad-Manchester flights in October 2025.
PIA said the first flight from Manchester to Lahore departed on Wednesday night. On Thursday, Flight PK-709 left Lahore for Manchester with 325 passengers on board. Airport officials held a ceremony at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport to mark the inaugural departure.
Passengers welcomed the new service and described it as a major convenience for the large Pakistani community living in the United Kingdom, PIA said.
The airline said the Lahore-Manchester route represents an important expansion of its international operations. PIA now operates five weekly flights between Pakistan and Manchester, including four services from Islamabad and one from Lahore.
The launch became possible after the United Kingdom lifted restrictions on Pakistani airlines by removing Pakistan from its Air Safety List in 2025.
Pakistani carriers had been barred from operating flights to the UK and Europe after the 2020 crash of a PIA Airbus A320 in Karachi, which killed nearly 100 people. The accident was followed by concerns over pilot licensing that led to international restrictions.
The United Kingdom is home to more than 1.6 million people of Pakistani origin. The community plays a significant role in strengthening trade, investment, remittances and cultural ties between the two countries.
PIA was privatized in 2025 after a consortium led by Arif Habib Corporation acquired a 75% stake in the airline. The new owners have pledged to improve services, expand international destinations and modernize the airline’s fleet.
