PIA to resume Islamabad–London flights in March 2026 after six-year suspension

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced it will restart direct flights between Islamabad and London on March 29, 2026, marking its return to the British capital after a six-year hiatus.

The national carrier will operate four weekly services from Islamabad to London Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4. PIA said London remains one of its most strategically important routes, noting that it was the airline’s first-ever international destination.

PIA currently operates three weekly flights to Manchester and plans to gradually expand its UK network alongside the relaunch of the London service. The move follows the resolution of long-standing regulatory restrictions that had grounded the airline’s European operations.

In June 2020, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency suspended PIA’s authorisation to fly to EU destinations after safety concerns emerged in the wake of a fatal domestic crash. The ban was lifted on November 28, 2024. Subsequently, in July 2025, the UK removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, allowing Pakistani airlines to resume services to Britain.

PIA received approval in September 2025 to restart UK flights, initially resuming services to Manchester, with London forming the next phase of its recovery strategy.

The airline said the resumption of Islamabad–London flights reflects its commitment to restoring confidence in its international operations and strengthening air connectivity between Pakistan and the United Kingdom for business, tourism and family travel.