PIA Manchester routes carry 104,845 passengers in first year
Pakistan International Airlines has carried 104,845 passengers on its Manchester to Islamabad and Manchester to Lahore routes since the services began, the airline has reported.
The Manchester to Islamabad route launched in October 2025. It started with two weekly flights and has since grown to four weekly flights, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, after strong demand.
PIA added a second Manchester route in July 2026, with a weekly flight to Lahore operating on Wednesdays. Together, the two routes have also handled 1,541 tonnes of cargo.
Cargo and trade on the routes
Of the cargo carried, 1,412 tonnes were imported into the United Kingdom and 129 tonnes were shipped to Pakistan. The main imports included fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, pharmaceutical products, clothing and fabrics.
The cargo figures matter because the routes serve more than leisure travel. They carry goods that link producers in Pakistan with buyers and communities in northern England, and they give exporters a direct channel into the UK market.
Manchester Airport managing director Chris Woodroofe said the direct links connect communities in northern England with Pakistan while supporting regional economic development. The airport’s backing reflects the value of a route that serves a large catchment beyond Manchester itself.
Why the routes matter for families
For many passengers, the value of the routes is personal. Direct flights cut out connections and long detours, which makes family visits easier for older relatives and for parents travelling with children.
Yasmin Qureshi, the MP for Bolton South and Walkden, welcomed the return of direct flights. She said they had made travel more convenient for British Pakistanis and provided greater flexibility for family visits.
Afzal Khan, the MP for Manchester Rusholme, described the routes as a boost for local communities and the regional economy. The services provide direct connections for the large British Pakistani community across northern England, including residents of Manchester and Bradford.
That community link helps explain the passenger growth. When a route serves family travel, demand tends to hold up across seasons, because visits are planned around school holidays, weddings and family events rather than a single peak.
From two flights to four
The growth on the Islamabad route tells its own story. PIA doubled the service from two weekly flights to four after demand proved strong. That is a practical test of a route: an airline adds frequency when seats fill, not on the basis of a launch announcement alone.
The Lahore service, added in July 2026, gives the airline a second destination from Manchester. A weekly Wednesday flight is modest, but it gives passengers in the north of England a direct option for Lahore that did not exist before.
The next test for both routes will be whether frequency and passenger numbers hold as the services mature. For now, the first-year figures show a route pair that has grown from a single twice-weekly service into a small network with its own cargo trade.
How many passengers have the Manchester routes carried?
PIA reports 104,845 passengers on the Manchester to Islamabad and Manchester to Lahore routes since October 2025.
How often do the flights operate?
Manchester to Islamabad runs four times a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Manchester to Lahore runs once a week, on Wednesdays.
How much cargo have the routes carried?
The two routes have handled 1,541 tonnes of cargo, including 1,412 tonnes imported into the UK and 129 tonnes shipped to Pakistan.
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Sources and prior coverage
- ProPakistani, “PIA Achieves Major Milestone on Manchester Routes” (27 October 2026): https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/27/pia-achieves-major-milestone-on-manchester-routes/
