Pakistan International Airlines is preparing a major expansion of its United Kingdom services, with four weekly non stop flights scheduled between Islamabad and London Heathrow from March 29, 2026, complemented by a direct Lahore to London link. The move marks a decisive step in the national carrier’s post ban recovery and is expected to strengthen travel and tourism flows between Pakistan and the UK, particularly by restoring a flagship route that has been dormant for several years.

Revival of a Flagship Islamabad London Route

According to recent schedule filings and official statements, Pakistan International Airlines intends to operate four weekly non stop services between Islamabad International Airport and London Heathrow beginning March 29, 2026. The flights are planned to use Heathrow’s Terminal 4, where the carrier has secured valuable landing slots that were previously maintained through interim use by another airline during the suspension of PIA’s UK operations.

Industry schedule analysts report that the planned Islamabad London operation is structured around four weekly frequencies using Boeing 777 200ER aircraft, with mid day departures from Islamabad and afternoon arrivals into London. While reservations are expected to open closer to launch, the formal filing of the Northern Summer 2026 schedule signals a high level of confidence within the airline’s new management that the route will proceed as announced.

The return of the Islamabad London corridor is particularly significant for PIA because it historically functioned as one of the airline’s most profitable and high profile European routes. Before regulatory restrictions were imposed in 2020, London was a cornerstone of the carrier’s long haul network, handling substantial volumes of both point to point traffic and connecting passengers from other Pakistani cities.

Lahore to London Service Completes the UK Capital Network

The Islamabad relaunch is being closely followed by the restoration of a direct Lahore to London Heathrow service, currently scheduled to commence on March 30, 2026. PIA has confirmed that the Lahore London route will initially operate once weekly, with a Monday departure from Allama Iqbal International Airport to Heathrow, again using widebody Boeing 777 equipment.

This new Lahore link will complement the Islamabad operation and expand PIA’s overall London offering to a total of four weekly non stop flights in the first phase. Lahore will become the second Pakistani city to regain direct PIA connectivity with Heathrow, allowing travelers from Punjab’s largest metropolis to avoid transfers in the Gulf or via other European hubs that have dominated the Pakistan UK market during the national carrier’s absence.

Local aviation and travel agencies in Pakistan are reporting strong early interest from the diaspora and business community in Lahore, where direct access to London has been frequently cited as a missing piece in the post ban recovery of air links. Although the route will start with a single weekly rotation, PIA officials have indicated that frequency increases may be considered if demand trends and fleet availability permit.

From Safety Ban to Strategic Comeback

PIA’s renewed push into the UK market follows a prolonged period of regulatory isolation. In 2020, after a fatal crash near Karachi and revelations surrounding pilot licensing, European and British regulators imposed sweeping restrictions on Pakistani carriers. PIA’s direct flights to the UK and European Union were halted, and key Heathrow slots were temporarily assigned to another airline to prevent them from being forfeited.

Over the next several years, Pakistan’s aviation authorities and PIA undertook a series of reforms and safety audits to address the concerns raised by European and British regulators. The European Union lifted its ban in late 2024, and the United Kingdom removed Pakistan from its air safety list in 2025, clearing the way for a phased restoration of direct services. The first step came with the resumption of Islamabad Manchester flights in October 2025, using Boeing 777 aircraft on a twice weekly basis, later expanded to three weekly frequencies.

With regulatory doors now open, PIA’s leadership has turned its attention back to London, historically the airline’s first and most important overseas destination. Gaining approval for four weekly Heathrow slots and formally notifying the airport of its intention to restart London flights from late March 2026 represent pivotal milestones in this comeback strategy.

Privatisation, New Ownership and Route Expansion

The renewed London focus coincides with a sweeping restructuring of PIA’s ownership and governance. In late 2025, a consortium led by the Arif Habib Group emerged as the successful bidder for a 75 percent stake in the airline, marking one of the most significant privatisation deals in Pakistan’s aviation history. The group has pledged substantial investment to modernise operations, strengthen the fleet and restore key international routes that were either cut or suspended during the ban years.

Public statements from the consortium indicate that the new owners plan to increase PIA’s operational fleet from fewer than twenty aircraft to more than sixty over the coming years, with a particular emphasis on enhancing long haul connectivity. The Islamabad and Lahore to London routes are among the first high profile beneficiaries of this strategy, positioned as commercially critical services that can help stabilise revenues and demonstrate the airline’s renewed competitiveness.

Corporate partners brought into the privatisation structure, including major industrial firms, are expected to provide both financial backing and management expertise. Officials involved in the process have repeatedly described the relaunch of London flights as a symbolic test of the new PIA: a demonstration that safety reforms, corporate restructuring and market focused planning can translate into tangible improvements for passengers.

Travel and tourism stakeholders on both sides of the route are anticipating a positive impact from the increase in direct capacity between Pakistan and the UK. More than a million people of Pakistani heritage live in Britain, with particularly dense communities in and around London, the Midlands and northern England. For many of these travelers, a non stop national flag carrier link provides not only convenience but also a sense of continuity with longstanding travel patterns that were disrupted during the ban period.

Tour operators expect that the combination of Islamabad London, Lahore London and Islamabad Manchester services will create new opportunities for leisure and family travel, particularly during summer and winter peak seasons when demand for seats traditionally surges. Additional non stop options from Pakistan are also likely to exert competitive pressure on fares in a market that has been dominated in recent years by Gulf and Turkish carriers offering one stop connections via their hubs.

On the British side, tourism officials have consistently highlighted Pakistan’s underexploited potential as a destination for adventure travel, cultural tourism and religious heritage visits. Easier access to Islamabad and Lahore via non stop flights from Heathrow is expected to support tour operators developing itineraries that combine the mountain regions of northern Pakistan with the historic urban centers of Punjab.

Fleet Choice and Onboard Experience

PIA has confirmed that its London routes from both Islamabad and Lahore will be operated by Boeing 777 widebody aircraft. The type has long been a workhorse on the airline’s long haul network and offers a combination of range, capacity and cargo capability suited to high demand diaspora markets. Aviation analysts note that using a single aircraft family across the UK network can simplify crew training, maintenance and operational planning, an important consideration during a period of corporate transition.

The Boeing 777 configuration deployed on the Pakistan UK sector typically provides multiple cabin classes and substantial belly hold space for cargo, an important revenue component on routes with significant volumes of personal baggage, gifts and small commercial shipments. For passengers, the use of a widebody aircraft is associated with greater comfort on overnight or long daytime flights, particularly in terms of cabin height and space compared to narrower types.

Although PIA has not yet detailed specific product enhancements for the Islamabad and Lahore London services, executives within the new ownership structure have repeatedly emphasised service upgrades as a core part of their turnaround plan. Industry observers expect the airline to gradually introduce improvements in inflight entertainment, connectivity and catering in order to compete more effectively with regional rivals that have raised the standard for long haul travel in recent years.

Tourism Growth Prospects for Islamabad and Lahore

The restoration of direct London links is set to benefit not only outbound Pakistani travelers but also inbound tourism flows to Islamabad and Lahore. As the country’s capital, Islamabad serves as a gateway to the scenic northern regions, including popular trekking and mountaineering areas that attract growing numbers of international visitors. Direct connectivity from Heathrow shortens overall journey times for British and European tourists and removes the need for transfers in third countries.

Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural heart, stands to gain from renewed non stop access to London as well. The city’s Mughal architecture, Sufi shrines, colonial era heritage and vibrant culinary scene position it as a compelling urban destination for culture oriented travelers. Tour operators have long argued that reliable direct air links are a prerequisite for building sustained visitor numbers from high spending long haul markets such as the UK.

Officials within Pakistan’s tourism promotion agencies are expected to align marketing campaigns with the new flight schedules, highlighting twin city itineraries that combine Islamabad’s proximity to the mountains with Lahore’s cultural attractions. In the longer term, improved connectivity and increased visitor volumes may encourage new hotel investments, guided tour offerings and supporting services in both cities.

Competitive Landscape and Future Expansion

PIA’s return to London will place the airline back into direct competition with a group of well established foreign carriers that have dominated the Pakistan UK corridor during the years of regulatory suspension. Major Gulf and Turkish airlines currently channel a large share of Pakistan bound traffic through their hubs, offering multiple daily departures from London with global connections. Reentering this market will require PIA to balance schedule convenience, pricing and service quality.

Analysts suggest that the national carrier’s greatest initial strength will lie in its non stop flying time and cultural familiarity for Pakistani travelers, many of whom value Urdu speaking cabin crews and local cuisine onboard. Over time, the airline may look to expand both frequency and network reach, potentially considering additional UK points such as Birmingham in line with earlier statements by government officials about broader restoration plans.

For now, the focus remains on successfully launching and stabilising the four weekly Islamabad London and weekly Lahore London services from late March 2026. Performance on these routes will provide an early indication of how effectively PIA’s new ownership and management can translate regulatory progress and investment commitments into operational results, while offering travelers on both sides of the route renewed choice in a key long haul market.