Pakistan International Airways have announced new flights from Manchester Airport

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

It makes Manchester the only airport in the north with a direct connection to Pakistan. Annually, 362,000 people from the region travel to the Pakistani capital, which makes it the most in-demand destination not served by Manchester Airport.

Although Manchester Airport has the biggest route network of any UK airport outside London, until now, people traveling 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.

The new route will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 25 October with a view to increasing the frequency.

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said:

“Manchester Airport is proud to connect the North to the World, and that means making sure we serve the destinations people in our region 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 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 fulfills the long-standing demand of our valued passengers for hassle-free, nonstop travel between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

“With this development, travelers 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 center piece of the airport’s decade-long transformation programme, which is due to be concluded in the coming months.

Terminal 2 has already won the prestigious Prix Versailles for architecture and design, recognizing it as one of the most modern and user-friendly airport terminals in Europe.