British Airways to resume flights to Pakistan

Following decades of devastating Islamic militant action across the South Asian nation, security has drastically advanced. Thomas Drew, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, said that the resuming of BA flights was a “reflection of the great improvements”.

“The return of British Airways will give a particular boost to our growing trade and investment links,” Drew added.

BA, which is owned by Spanish-registered carrier IAG, will begin the London Heathrow–Islamabad service on June 2, with three weekly flights by the airline’s newest long-haul aircraft, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Tickets will go on sale today.

Robert Williams, BA’s head of sales for Asia Pacific and the Middle East, said: “It’s exciting to be flying between Islamabad and Heathrow from next year, which we believe will be particularly popular with the British Pakistani community who want to visit, or be visited by, their relatives.”

Islamabad has embarked on an ambitious international tourism campaign in recent months, in an effort to revive the ailing sector that was badly hit by Islamist militant violence in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the US-led war in Afghanistan.