While Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) fights for the right to return to European skies, Virgin Atlantic is taking full advantage of the opportunity with three new routes to Pakistan.
PIA Files Appeal To Resume European Flights
Pakistan International Airlines was banned from the European Union and United Kingdom last month after revelations of fake pilot licenses after a deadly Airbus A320 crash in May that killed 97 of 99 passengers and crew onboard outside of Karachi. The investigation is ongoing, though Live and Let’s Fly has shared why the pilot credentialing situation may not be as bad as some make it out to be.
On Thursday, PIA filed an appeal with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) concerning its flight ban. The appeal seeks to assuage European concerns over PIA’s Safety Management System (SMS). The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration defines SMS in this way:
SMS is the formal, top-down, organization-wide approach to managing safety risk and assuring the effectiveness of safety risk controls. It includes systematic procedures, practices, and policies for the management of safety risk.
In the interim, Pakistan has contracted with Hi-Fly to offer Airbus A330-300 service between Pakistan and England (Birmingham, London, and Manchester). PIA has also established Istanbul as a European gateway in a new partnership with Turkish Airlines.
Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic Announces Pakistan Service
Hardly a coincidence, this week Virgin Atlantic announced new service to Pakistan. Starting in December 2020, Virgin Atlantic plans to serve:
- London Heathrow ⇄ Islamabad
- London Heathrow ⇄ Lahore
- Manchester ⇄ Islamabad
At this point, we do not know schedules or aircraft types, but flights will go on sale as early as next week.
We’re thrilled to announce that from December, we’ll be flying direct to Pakistan. We’ll have flights from @HeathrowAirport to both Lahore and Islamabad, plus direct services from @manairport to Islamabad. Flights go on sale in September, and we can’t wait to welcome you. pic.twitter.com/61FS9dkaFb
— virginatlantic (@VirginAtlantic) August 27, 2020
CONCLUSION
PIA’s pain is Virgin Atlantic’s gain. While Virgin Atlantic plans three new routes to Pakistan this December, PIA is fighting to return to Europe.
Good luck to Virgin. Is there really such a demand?
This is good ,why don’t started ur service to karachi, thanks
Typo. Not 99 of 99 passengers died. 97 died. 91 passengers, 2 alive.
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Welcome to Pakistan.
You should add Lahore to Manchester route as well.
It’s good to hear this news,we need more airlines to comply with monoply…
This will bring competition and bring down the fares…
Dream come true. Definitely VA will make money on this route due to direct flight provided they have attractive fare compare to rivals Emirates Etihad and Qatar and of course PIA .
Well done Virgin Atlantic.
A wise & a clever decision by virgin, a huge demand by pakistani community not only at this stage but always, good luck to virgin
Please include karachi
This is fantastic news.
As long as virgin stick with good fare prices they will overtake everyone.
Pia have been ripping customers off with low service and entertainment also not working.
Well done and thankyou virgin.
When you start back in USA
Great to see more competition on this route. More choice for us. There will be plenty of demand. Thanks Virgin.
They already have restarted to LAX, JFK, and MIA.
Thought Virgin were in financial trouble
Dream come true. Definitely VA will make money on this route due to direct flight provided they have attractive fare compare to rivals Emirates Etihad and Qatar and of course PIA .
Relief
Welcome VA xxx
Good sensible move by Virgin.
PIA, now thrive on your politics and unionism.
PALPA should have seen it coming; you can not make everyone a fool all the time.
There is plenty of demand between UK and Pakistan plus cargo. No worries on that score.
Virgin should however increase checked baggage allowance as for India
Thought Virgin were in financial trouble
I am very pleased with this .well done virgin Atlantic please carry on for ever .direct flights from London to Islamabad please.
Well done virgin
Well done,hope the next destination will BE JFK soon
Shame on PIA!
Shame on PIA! All other airlines should also take such decisions to come back to Pakistan!
A bold step taken by VIRGIN ATLANTIC, keep it up.
Smart move. Good luck Virgin Atlantic
PIA was once, prior to PML-N corruption in PK’s civil aviation industry, a public service to Pakistan. Virgin on the other hand will be a paracite on the public of Pakistan just as Vigin / Branson is a paracite on the NHS.
I was always woundering why does virgin not fly to pakistan finaly they have done it, well done and hope its fkr ever and not short term PIA was a corrupt Airline servise was very bad and poor food was disgusting and always ripping people i hope virgins prices cut all the other Airlines if they don,t then no one will travel and there will be plenty of business to pakistan that is if virgin keep their prices down good luck….hope to travel with you soon….
Welcome to Pakistan.
You should add Lahore to Manchester route as well.
Please consider flights between Manchester and Lahore.
We love PIA we will love at risk of our lives. Atleast they have given jobs to those failed in flying tests. Thats great welfare no one will do.. Jye bhutto.. Bhutto zinda hy.. Karachi bny ga qabristan.
Good luck to virgin atlantic, please consider flight between Glasgow – Lahore,
if your fares are less then all other airlines who fly to Pakistan, success is guaranteed, because people’s first choice will be direct flight from any gateway,
Virgin airline pls add glasgow to islamabad to your route too
Are there any plans for Hearhrow – karachi route. I am sure Virgin Atlantic will make huge profits on this one too. Especially that flyers want a direct service between these two destinations, without a stopover somewhere in the Middle East.
I would like to see Air France and Lufthansa to capitalize on this market, Pakistanis have been ripped off by their own national airline for too long. I remember traveling from JFK to Lahore with my family in first class, 90% were PIA employees and their families, that’s why the airline has been in Red for so many years. The latest exposure of corruption is the final nail in PIA’s coffin.
All very well for Mr Branson and Virgin intending to fly to Pakistan. What about all of his 1000s of valued Virgin customers who are still owed thousands of pounds for cancelled holidays. He has been holding on to millions of pounds for over 12 months. I wonder what he is doing with our money…come on Branson, pay back your customers.
Well done Virgin, great business move. However, unable to understand why Heathrow to Karachi service has not been included for a big disapora on this route!
Well come to Pakistan,
Why is Karachi missing?It’s the economic hub and largest city.Bigger than 90 COUNTRIES of the world.Please add Karachi as well.
There is a big demand here in Glasgow for flights direct to Lahore, Faislabad and Islamabad and Sialkot Airport. I hope atleast 1 of the cities is considered to get flights going direct from Glasgow! Thanks
Shame on Pti government especially Imran Khan. The kranchi plane crash issue was as dealt wrongly by the governmen. The fake licenses issue was created by the crupt Pia management and government. Pia domestic plans has always been the main concern for the public and Pia management. They have the most doggy planes flying on domestic route.
Wish you best of luck and of course welcome to Pakistan..
Good news it be competition and hopefully cheaper.get rid off UAE flights.
Thanks for ending of PIA’s monopoly and welcome Virgin Atlantic for becoming in Pakistan