A key route from Manchester Airport to Islamabad is returning after a five-year ban was lifted
10:03, 24 Oct 2025Updated 10:05, 24 Oct 2025
Manchester Airport(Image: Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)
Airline bosses have hailed a ‘huge benefit for thousands of passengers’ as a key flight route to and from Manchester Airport returns after five years.
The first direct Pakistan International Airlines flight from Islamabad to Manchester Airport is due to touch down on Saturday after a safety-related ban was lifted in July.
The airline said it marked an ‘historic moment’ and said there had been an ‘unwavering commitment to aviation safety’. The return of flights, added PIA, would strengthen Pakistan’s economic and cultural ties with the UK.
Since 2020, there have been no direct flights between Pakistan and UK airports, significantly increasing travel times and personal costs for passengers. This changes this weekend follow the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s decision to remove PIA from its Air Safety List on July 16.
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The airline said there had been ‘comprehensive assessments of pilot licensing, aircraft maintenance and safety management protocols’, saying its return ‘underscores the confidence of UK aviation authorities in PIA’s adherence to stringent international flight safety standards’.
“This is a moment of immense pride and profound significance for Pakistan, and a huge benefit for the thousands of passengers who rely on this vital route,” said Muhammad Amir Hayat, Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan International Airlines.
“Working closely with our UK partners, the journey for us to this point has been one of meticulous reform and a steadfast commitment to excellence.
A PIA flight at Manchester Airport(Image: Andrew Stuart)
“We have worked tirelessly to not only rectify past challenges, but to establish a robust and world-class aviation safety framework. The return of PIA to the UK is a direct result of these efforts and a clear signal of our renewed operational integrity and financial health, promising a reliable and affordable service for all.”
The five-year suspension began in 2020 after Pakistan launched an investigation into the validity of pilot licences issued in the country following a crash that killed 97 people. The crash, near Karachi, exposed pilot licensing irregularities, prompting international blacklisting.
Dr Mohammad Faisal, High Commissioner of Pakistan to the UK, said: “The re-establishment of direct air links is a powerful symbol of our enduring friendship and deepening partnership with the United Kingdom.
“This will unlock immense opportunities, most importantly for people and their families, as well as trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. The arrival of PIA’s first flight is a momentous occasion, celebrating not only a technical achievement but a renewed bond between two nations.”
Direct flights between Manchester and Islamabad are available to book on the PIA website or through booking partners.
Manchester Airport’s T2(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Initially, four weekly flights are expected to operate, with PIA saying flights from Birmingham and London are expected to follow in the next phase ‘as demand dictates’.
Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said: “We know hundreds of thousands of passengers from our catchment area travel to Pakistan every year but don’t have the option of enjoying the benefits of a direct connection. Our partnership with Pakistan International Airlines puts that right and adds Islamabad to our route network of more than 200 destinations served by 50-plus airlines.”
Manchester Airport has welcomed the return, saying non-stop flights would serve more than 350,000 passengers per year as the only service direct to the Middle Eastern country from the north.
Fares start from £633 and flights take just under eight hours. Initially, four weekly flights are expected to operate. Flights from Birmingham and London are expected to follow in the next phase as demand dictates.