PIA to Start Karachi London Flights in March 2027
Pakistan International Airlines will start direct Karachi London flights in March 2027, the airline told a parliamentary committee on Thursday, 5 November 2026. The route is part of a wider expansion as PIA rebuilds its fleet after privatisation. The airline said its operational fleet had risen to 17 or 18 aircraft.
A PIA general manager briefed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Privatization. He said two Boeing 787 Dreamliners were joining the fleet. One Dreamliner had already arrived in Pakistan, and the second was due on 15 December 2026. Two more relatively newer aircraft, aged around seven to eight years, are expected in January 2027.
ProPakistani reported the briefing from the committee meeting. The airline is also working to bring grounded aircraft back into service as engines and other parts arrive from international suppliers.
How the PIA fleet has changed since privatisation
At the time of privatisation, PIA had 15 operational aircraft and 16 grounded planes. The number of grounded aircraft has since dropped to 14. The two Dreamliners and the two aircraft due in January would take the active fleet higher still, if the restoration work stays on schedule.
Secretary Privatization Usman Bajwa told the committee that passenger feedback on PIA’s UK flights had been encouraging. He pointed to flight schedules and food quality in particular. The committee also discussed ticket prices. The PIA general manager admitted that the airline’s fares were sometimes Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 higher than those of competing airlines.
The Karachi-London announcement follows a second UK route decision in the same week. Feature Pakistan has reported that PIA will run three direct Islamabad-Birmingham flights a week from 1 December. London in March 2027 will give the airline two direct UK routes from Pakistan, with Karachi added to the network.
What the Karachi London flights mean for travellers
Karachi is Pakistan’s largest city and its main business hub. A direct Karachi London service will suit business travellers and the large Pakistani community in Britain, who now often travel through the Gulf or through Islamabad. Direct flights cut hours off the trip and remove a connection.
The route also matters for PIA’s finances. Long-haul UK services earn foreign currency and fill wide-body aircraft. But the airline will face stiff competition. Gulf carriers already carry much of the Karachi-London traffic through their hubs, and they often undercut PIA on price. The fare gap the committee raised, Rs2,000 to Rs3,000, is small on a long-haul ticket, yet it shows the pressure PIA faces on price.
Fleet reliability will decide whether the plan works. PIA has long struggled with grounded aircraft and parts shortages. The committee heard that restoration depends on engines and equipment from international suppliers. If those deliveries slip, the March 2027 start could move as well. For now, the airline has given a firm month, and the Dreamliner arrivals give the plan a base.
What happens next
The second Dreamliner is due on 15 December 2026, and the two further aircraft are expected in January 2027. PIA will need to confirm schedules and open bookings for the Karachi-London service in the coming months. Travellers will watch fares closely, since the committee has already put the airline’s prices under the spotlight.
The expansion is one part of the privatisation story. Feature Pakistan has reported that 16 PIA aircraft were grounded at the time of the sale. The fall to 14 grounded jets, and the rise to 17 or 18 in service, shows slow progress. Fuel prices have also eased, which helps airline costs. Karachi’s own transport picture is changing too, with double-decker electric buses on the roads.
Frequently asked questions
When will PIA start Karachi to London flights?
In March 2027. PIA announced the date to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Privatization on 5 November 2026. The flights will be direct.
How many aircraft does PIA have flying now?
PIA has 17 or 18 operational aircraft. At privatisation it had 15 in service and 16 grounded. The grounded figure has since fallen to 14.
What new aircraft is PIA getting?
Two Boeing 787 Dreamliners are joining the fleet. One has arrived in Pakistan and the second is due on 15 December 2026. Two more aircraft, aged around seven to eight years, are expected in January 2027.
Are PIA fares higher than other airlines?
The airline told the committee its fares were sometimes Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 higher than competing airlines. Passenger feedback on UK flights has still been encouraging, the committee heard.
