New direct flights launched between Manchester and Islamabad

Virgin Atlantic has launched new flights to Islamabad from Manchester

Direct flights from Manchester to Islamabad have been launched by Virgin Atlantic as of Thursday (10 December).

With a significant proportion of Pakistani diaspora living in the region, the new services will provide vital connectivity for friends and relatives visiting family and loved ones, in addition to serving growing demand for business and leisure travel.

In addition, Virgin Atlantic will also launch services between London Heathrow and Islamabad on 12 December and London Heathrow to Lahore on 13 December.

The new route will operate on Virgin Atlantic's Boeing 787 offering upper class, premium and economy light, classic and delight cabins. In-flight entertainment includes a selection of Urdu films and TV programmes. 

As well as flying customers, Virgin Atlantic will offer a cargo service, growing trade volumes between exporters and importers in both the UK and Pakistan. The UK is the largest export market for Pakistan in Europe, transporting high volumes of goods such as textiles, apparel and machinery.

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, commented: “We have missed flying customers from Manchester, our home in the North, so I’m pleased we can continue to mark our return with the launch of our new service to Pakistan. This is our first route launch since the Covid-19 pandemic, and it is an extremely important one for us as we look to reunite families and loved ones.

“Despite the challenges brought by Covid-19, our commitment to Manchester has never wavered. It’s an exciting time as demand gradually returns and we build up flying from the region. Our desire to delight and connect customers flying from the North West continues and we are looking forward to welcoming them back and flying them safely to their favourite destinations. We’d like to thank the British High Commission for their support during our set up phase and also the Pakistani authorities for granting us the approvals to operate this route. We’re delighted that the authorities recognise the importance of this service, enabling vital connectivity between these two great cities”

Karen Smart, Managing Director of Manchester Airport, said: “We are pleased to support Virgin Atlantic in launching its first route to Asia from Manchester, and its first service to Islamabad from any UK airport.

“The route will open up a wide range of benefits for the North, strengthening trade ties with Pakistan as well as helping to connect the more than 435,000 people of Pakistani heritage in the region with friends and relatives.

“We continue to work closely with Virgin Atlantic and all of our partner airlines to ensure that the passenger experience is the best that it can be during these challenging times and that the appropriate measures are in place to keep passengers and staff safe.”

Virgin Atlantic is implementing additional measures to ensure the health and safety of customers and crew, including enhanced and thorough cleaning practices at check in, boarding gates and onboard plus the use of electrostatic spraying of high-grade disinfectant in all cabins and lavatories before every flight.

Safe distancing will also be adhered to wherever possible, and mask wearing will be required throughout the journey.

All customers will be provided with a personal Health Pack for their health and safety, which will contain three medical grade face masks to be worn onboard, surface wipes and hand gel.