Restoring Connectivity
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) officially resumed direct flights between Lahore and Manchester on July 2, 2026, ending a nearly five-year suspension of the route. Flight PK-709 departed from Lahore with 325 passengers, following the successful launch of a return flight from Manchester the previous night.
This development increases the airline’s weekly frequency between Pakistan and the United Kingdom to five, with four flights originating from Islamabad and one from Lahore. The restoration of this route is viewed as a significant step in strengthening the ties between Pakistan and the UK, which hosts a diaspora of over 1.6 million people.
Aviation Recovery
The resumption of flights follows a difficult period for the airline. In 2020, Pakistani carriers were barred from flying to the European Union and the United Kingdom following a fatal Airbus A320 crash in Karachi and subsequent concerns regarding pilot licensing standards. The sector has since undergone rigorous regulatory reviews.
The path to normalization began in November 2024, when the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted its ban, followed by the United Kingdom removing Pakistan from its Air Safety List in July 2025. PIA subsequently received authorization to restart direct UK services, prioritizing Manchester as its initial hub for re-entry into the European market.
Privatization and Future Outlook
The operational expansion coincides with the airline’s transition to private management. In 2025, a consortium led by the Arif Habib Corporation acquired a 75 percent stake in the carrier. The new ownership has committed to a modernization program focused on fleet expansion and service quality improvement, aiming to restore PIA’s competitiveness in the international aviation market.