Pakistan International Airlines launches new route from Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport and Pakistan International Airlines have announced a new twice-weekly service to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

The new connection will make Manchester the North’s only airport with a direct connection to Pakistan, and serve the 362,000 people in the region that travel to Islamabad each year. Although Manchester Airport has the biggest route network of any UK airport outside London, until now people travelling to Pakistan’s capital had to do so either by flying out of Manchester and connecting to Pakistan in the Middle East or by flying from London, making the city the most in-demand destination for the North’s passengers not served by Manchester Airport.

The new route will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 25 October with a view to increasing the frequency, and follows other new direct connections to South Asia launched by Indian airline, IndiGo.

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.

“This new route will be a real boost to the region’s Pakistani community and opens up an easy way for tourists to visit an exciting country. We’re all really looking forward to the first flights in just a few weeks and to hearing about people’s experiences of an amazing destination.”

A Pakistan International Airlines spokesperson said:

“This new service fulfils the long-standing demand of our valued passengers for hassle-free, nonstop travel between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

“With this development, travellers can now reach their destination in just eight hours, avoiding lengthy layovers on connecting flights.”

The new service will operate from Manchester Airport’s brand new, £1.3bn Terminal 2. The terminal is the centrepiece of the airport’s decade-long transformation programme which is due to be conclude in the coming months.