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

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 and convert with our currency converter.

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