PAKISTAN International Airlines is increasing UK capacity this summer following the acquisition of new long-haul jets.
The deal to lease six Boeing 747-300s from Cathay Pacific has enabled PIA to increase services from Heathrow and Manchester.
From May 1, Heathrow will have thrice weekly flights to Karachi instead of twice weekly and Manchester services to Islamabad and Karachi will also rise to three times a week.
The new summer timetable will give PIA seven weekly flights from Heathrow, which includes services to Islamabad and Lahore.
The two-class B747-300s are being fitted with new business-class cabins to give in-flight telephones and on-board catering is being upgraded. The business-class improvements coincide with the start of a frequent flyer programme. The Boeings, in new PIA livery, start to arrive in May with a full delivery expected by the end of the summer.
Passenger sales manager UK and Ireland Mamoon Shaikh said PIA also wants to improve its UK network by offering a weekly flight to Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. “The flights would stop once, in Karachi, but the same aircraft would go on to Kathmandu,” he said.
He said UK tour operator were using PIA to get to the Himalayas, but passengers did not like changing aircraft.