Pakistan International Airlines Flights, New Routes & Schedule Updates

[KJAY 786]

VIRGIN ATLANTIC are pulling out of PAKISTAN - (MAY 2023 Lahore and JULY 2023 Islamabad) NO FLIGHTS FROM UK TO PAKISTAN it is confirmed on Pakistan Media sites - I am shocked what to say Birmingham would have done well with VIRGIN ATLANTIC and many sectors inc Pakistan - overall hope all are well and Happy Valentines to all

 

[Kevin Farnell]

VIRGIN ATLANTIC are pulling out of PAKISTAN - (MAY 2023 Lahore and JULY 2023 Islamabad) NO FLIGHTS FROM UK TO PAKISTAN it is confirmed on Pakistan Media sites - I am shocked what to say Birmingham would have done well with VIRGIN ATLANTIC and many sectors inc Pakistan - overall hope all are well and Happy Valentines to all

I believe that British Airways will continue to serve Pakistan from LHR. Much as I'd like to see Virgin at BHX, it's never going to happen. Their business model is to serve long haul destinations from LHR. MAN and EDI.

 

[Timberwolf]

VIRGIN ATLANTIC are pulling out of PAKISTAN - (MAY 2023 Lahore and JULY 2023 Islamabad) NO FLIGHTS FROM UK TO PAKISTAN it is confirmed on Pakistan Media sites - I am shocked what to say Birmingham would have done well with VIRGIN ATLANTIC and many sectors inc Pakistan - overall hope all are well and Happy Valentines to all

Virgin are expanding back into China more money to be made there.
Unfortunately BHX and Virgin Atlantic don't really get on, so no chance of them starting into BHX.

 

[Scania1800]

Virgin are expanding back into China more money to be made there.
Unfortunately BHX and Virgin Atlantic don't really get on, so no chance of them starting into BHX.

Richard seems to always have disliked the idea of a BHX

VIRGIN ATLANTIC are pulling out of PAKISTAN - (MAY 2023 Lahore and JULY 2023 Islamabad) NO FLIGHTS FROM UK TO PAKISTAN it is confirmed on Pakistan Media sites - I am shocked what to say Birmingham would have done well with VIRGIN ATLANTIC and many sectors inc Pakistan - overall hope all are well and Happy Valentines to all

British airways is the only service but is extremely unreliable

 

[Matt995]

UK aviation experts conclude audit of CAA, PIA | The Express Tribune

Visit aimed at helping Pakistan get off the UK’s Air Safety List

tribune.com.pk

UK aviation experts conclude audit of CAA, PIA

Visit aimed at helping Pakistan get off the UK’s Air Safety List

A British aviation team concluded on Friday its 12-day visit aimed at sharing best practice on air safety performance and building relationships with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), the British High Commission said in a statement.

The visit by UK State Safety Partnership (SSP) team was funded by the UK Department for Transport. The team worked closely with the PCAA and the industry to lay the foundations for long-term collaboration on safety performance.

Currently, all air carriers certified by the PCAA remain on the UK’s Air Safety List due to safety concerns. The SSP team’s support will not directly lead to the removal of Pakistan from the list, but the programme had been designed to help Pakistan’s authorities achieve this goal.

Andrew Dalgleish, Chargé d’ Affaires at the British High Commission, Islamabad, said that direct flights between the UK and Pakistan were a helpful channel for businesses and people-to-people contacts.

“The British High Commission understands how important this is for Pakistani airline companies. This visit and ongoing support signify our commitment to help the Pakistani authorities achieve this for the benefit of the citizens of both the UK and Pakistan.”

Pakistan is required to demonstrate compliance with international safety standards in order to get off the Air Safety List. It is a comprehensive process requiring the provision of evidence, on-site assessments and technical hearings.

Sources said on Thursday that the team – led by Capt Malcolm Rusby, the head of the State Safety Partnership Programme at UK CAA – arrived in Karachi for the audit of the PCAA and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

After the audit, according to the sources, another team of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) was expected to visit Pakistan in March or April. After that audit, the ban on Pakistani airlines to European countries was expected to be lifted, they added.

 

[Scania1800]

UK aviation experts conclude audit of CAA, PIA | The Express Tribune

Visit aimed at helping Pakistan get off the UK’s Air Safety List

tribune.com.pk

UK aviation experts conclude audit of CAA, PIA

Visit aimed at helping Pakistan get off the UK’s Air Safety List

A British aviation team concluded on Friday its 12-day visit aimed at sharing best practice on air safety performance and building relationships with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), the British High Commission said in a statement.

The visit by UK State Safety Partnership (SSP) team was funded by the UK Department for Transport. The team worked closely with the PCAA and the industry to lay the foundations for long-term collaboration on safety performance.

Currently, all air carriers certified by the PCAA remain on the UK’s Air Safety List due to safety concerns. The SSP team’s support will not directly lead to the removal of Pakistan from the list, but the programme had been designed to help Pakistan’s authorities achieve this goal.

Andrew Dalgleish, Chargé d’ Affaires at the British High Commission, Islamabad, said that direct flights between the UK and Pakistan were a helpful channel for businesses and people-to-people contacts.

“The British High Commission understands how important this is for Pakistani airline companies. This visit and ongoing support signify our commitment to help the Pakistani authorities achieve this for the benefit of the citizens of both the UK and Pakistan.”

Pakistan is required to demonstrate compliance with international safety standards in order to get off the Air Safety List. It is a comprehensive process requiring the provision of evidence, on-site assessments and technical hearings.

Sources said on Thursday that the team – led by Capt Malcolm Rusby, the head of the State Safety Partnership Programme at UK CAA – arrived in Karachi for the audit of the PCAA and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

After the audit, according to the sources, another team of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) was expected to visit Pakistan in March or April. After that audit, the ban on Pakistani airlines to European countries was expected to be lifted, they added.

Doesn’t look that quick for PIA

 

[Matt995]

Pakistan update:-

Today, Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique in a press conference held in Lahore informed:

We are nearing the target to resume Pakistani airlines' flights to & from UK/Europe.

Hopefully Pakistani airlines' flights to & from UK will resume in coming months and later with flights to & from other cities in Europe.


- I believe Pakistan have passed the "online" audit by EASA

 

[Timberwolf]

I believe they are looking to restart LHR and MAN not heard BHX mentioned yet.Hopefully that will change..

 

[mullion]

I have heard 7 week to ISB and 2 LRE ex MAN plus about 4 a week ex LHR

 

[Timberwolf]

Sounds about right.

 

[Coathanger16]

Hopefully its just a matter of time for BHX.

In 2019, passengers levels were 11% higher than 2018, and just prior to the pandemic passenger levels could have easily filled 4 B777s each week.

Good that they've worked through their problems and will be back in the UK soon though.

 

[JENNYJET]

What then for Hans Airways? Alicante??

 

[Brum X]

What then for Hans Airways? Alicante??

Cloud Cukkoo land JENNYJET, he he he he he he

 

[Scania1800]

I see PIA have regained their Check in Desk at BHX, let’s hope for a return soon

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I see PIA have regained their Check in Desk at BHX, let’s hope for a return soon

Interesting!

 

[Matt995]

PIA forum :- https://historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=219363#p219363

Seems to indicate the UK CAA have approved the safety of 3 Pakistan airports, ISB, LHE, KHI and are expecting flights to resume to LHR first, then MAN, no mention of BHX yet

however no timescale has been quoted when they might start

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Would it not be unusual for an airline like PIA to have a dedicated permanent check in desk at BHX. They would only require the desk for 3 hours or so for each departure (3 or 4 times per week). Most check in desks have a large TV screen above them on which the airline logo can be changed.
I could understand a permanent ticket desk, but I'm not so sure about a check in desk.

 

[gulftraveller]

Are PIA’s slots at LHR leased out? That might explain the suggestion on the historyofpia site that LHR will follow after MAN is established. I believe the plan was for LHR, MAN and CDG but if there are no slots at LHR, they might include BHX. Seems odd, though, to have a dedicated desk at BHX when services are some way off.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Are PIA’s slots at LHR leased out? That might explain the suggestion on the historyofpia site that LHR will follow after MAN is established. I believe the plan was for LHR, MAN and CDG but if there are no slots at LHR, they might include BHX. Seems odd, though, to have a dedicated desk at BHX when services are some way off.

PIA have never had a dedicated desk at BHX

 

[Timberwolf]

Interesting!

How odd.I take it Saudia and Qatar who are starting soon also have desks ?