Business Desk 
Mar 30, 2026
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Sunday resumed direct flights to London after a long hiatus with the inaugural flight departing from Islamabad.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), PIA said: "The wait is over — our historic flight from #Islamabad to #London is taking off! A new chapter unfolds, connecting two vibrant cities and bringing unforgettable journeys closer than ever. Flights will also operate from Lahore to London."
The flights resumption — after six years — to London comes days after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced that PIA was set to commence direct flights from Islamabad and Lahore.
The airline's PK-785 flight departed from Islamabad to the UK's capital carrying 325 passengers. The flight was seen off by Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Muhammad Ali and British High Commissioner Jane Marriott.
On March 26, In an X post, the minister said that the Pakistani diaspora in the United Kingdom "would travel with ease on direct flights saving time and money".
"Our govt took significant measures to resume direct flights to London soon after starting flights to Manchester," he wrote in the post.
Asif announced that the nation will "soon witness the expansion of PIA fleet and revival of its network of direct flights" to more destinations in the UK, Europe, and Canada.
"Our government is also working closely with the aviation authority of the US to revive direct flight operations to US. I wish all stakeholders a brighter future after successful transformation of aviation sector in Pakistan, acknowledged by all International Aviation Authorities," the defence minister wrote.
The national carrier said it aims to provide direct travel facilities to more than 1.6 million Pakistanis residing in the UK.
