Hundreds of thousands of passengers are set to benefit as Manchester Airport announces a major new route with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) connecting the North of England directly to Pakistan’s capital city.
Until now, travellers heading to Islamabad from the North were forced to connect via London or Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai or Doha.
Only airport in the North of England offering a direct connection to Pakistan
The launch of this non-stop service makes Manchester the only airport in the North of England offering a direct connection to Pakistan, addressing years of demand from the region’s large Pakistani community and business market.
Launching on October 25, the twice-weekly service to Islamabad International Airport will operate every Tuesday and Saturday, with plans to increase frequency in future.
A major boost for northern connectivity
The route will serve more than 350,000 passengers per year, marking a significant milestone for both the airport and northern travellers with ties to Pakistan.
Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe called the development an important step in improving northern connectivity:
“Manchester Airport is proud to connect the North to the world, and that means serving the destinations people in our region most want to travel to. 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 over 50 airlines.”
Woodroofe added that the route will bring new opportunities for trade, tourism, and social connection:
“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.”
According to a Pakistan International Airlines spokesperson, the introduction of this route fulfils a long-standing passenger demand for hassle-free travel between Pakistan and the UK:
“With this development, travellers can now reach their destination in just eight hours, avoiding lengthy layovers on connecting flights.”
The direct service represents a major improvement in convenience and efficiency for travellers who previously faced total journey times exceeding 13 hours with stopovers.
Operated from Manchester’s cutting-edge Terminal 2
All flights will depart from Manchester Airport’s state-of-the-art £1.3bn Terminal 2, the centrepiece of the airport’s decade-long transformation programme nearing completion.
Terminal 2 has already earned international recognition, winning the Prix Versailles award for architecture and design, and is celebrated as one of Europe’s most modern and passenger-friendly airport terminals.
With around 362,000 people from the North travelling to Islamabad each year, demand for the route was among the highest for any unserved destination from Manchester. The new service not only caters to family visits and cultural connections but also enhances prospects for business, trade, and tourism between the UK and Pakistan.