British Airways is the first European airline to return to Pakistan after more than 10 years
British Airways has resumed flights to Pakistan more than a decade after suspending operations due to security fears over a decade ago.
The first flight of British Airways (BA- 261) arrived at the Islamabad International Airport at 9:18am on June 3 morning. The same aircraft will depart for Heathrow at 11:10am with passengers on board from Islamabad.
The British carrier will fly thrice weekly between London and Islamabad.
Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfiqar Hussain Bukhari and senior officials of Aviation Division and British High Commission welcomed the passengers at Islamabad International Airport.
British High Commissioner Thomas Drew said the airline’s resumption of services is a testament to Pakistan’s improving security situation.
In a video message on Twitter, he said: “This is a big day for the UK and Pakistan as the first flight of British Airways new direct service takes off from London’s Heathrow, headed here to Islamabad.” Drew added: “Britain’s flag carrier is back, the two countries are already so close in so many ways and this will only bring us closer.”
British Airways is the first European airline to return to Pakistan after more than 10 years.