# PIA to start direct Karachi to London flights in March 2027 as fleet grows

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/business/pia-to-start-direct-karachi-to-london-flights-in-march-2027-as-fleet-grows)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 5 Nov 2026
Updated: 5 Nov 2026
Retrieved: 5 Nov 2026

> A second Boeing 787 is due in December and two more aircraft in January, PIA told a National Assembly committee, which also asked why its fares run Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 above rivals.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will start **direct flights from Karachi to London in March 2027**, Secretary Privatisation Usman Bajwa told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Privatisation on Thursday, 5 November 2026, ProPakistani reported. Today PIA's UK flights leave from Islamabad and Lahore, so Karachi passengers have to connect.

## Fleet: 17 or 18 planes flying now

A PIA general manager told the committee:

- PIA now has **17 or 18 operational aircraft**, up from 15 at the time of privatisation.
- Grounded aircraft are down from **16 to 14**, and more will return as engines and parts arrive from foreign suppliers.
- One **Boeing 787 Dreamliner** has already arrived; the second was scheduled for **15 December 2026**.
- Two more aircraft, about seven to eight years old, will join in **January 2027**.

Bajwa said passenger feedback on PIA's UK flights had been encouraging, especially on schedules and food.

## Fares: up to Rs 3,000 dearer

Members raised PIA's ticket prices. The general manager accepted that PIA's fares are sometimes **Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 higher** than competing airlines on the same routes.

## What it means for you

- **Karachi travellers to the UK:** no direct PIA flight until March 2027. Until then, the options are a PIA connection via Islamabad or Lahore, or a Gulf or Turkish carrier with one stop. Bookings for the Karachi route are not open yet; wait for PIA's announcement on piac.com.pk before paying any agent.
- **Fares:** compare PIA's price with Gulf carriers on the same dates; the gap the airline itself admits is small enough that schedule and baggage may matter more.
- **Paying in pounds:** check the [pound rate in Pakistan today](/data/gbp-pkr) and convert with our [currency converter](/tools/finance/currency-converter).

More aircraft in December and January should mean fewer cancellations on domestic routes over the winter.

## Frequently asked questions

**When will PIA start Karachi to London flights?**

In March 2027, Secretary Privatisation Usman Bajwa told the National Assembly committee on 5 November 2026.

## Sources

- PIA Reveals When Karachi to London Flights Will Start (ProPakistani): https://propakistani.pk/2026/11/05/pia-reveals-when-karachi-to-london-flights-will-start/

How to cite: "PIA to start direct Karachi to London flights in March 2027 as fleet grows", Searchable, 5 Nov 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/business/pia-to-start-direct-karachi-to-london-flights-in-march-2027-as-fleet-grows