PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

[Abbas Ali]

On January 20, Aviation Minister Muhammad Mian Soomro said: “After the availability of the planes, the national flag carrier will also start flights from Sialkot to London,”.

Source: The News

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

PIA announces flights between Sialkot and London.



Abbas

[baberblues]

Is this to London Heathrow?

[dragonfly]

Most probably via KHI as PK 787...... PIA Does not have the slots at LHR....don’t think they have ever tried to obtain additional slots either.... typical PIA flight planning.They had a golden opportunity to operate daily to ISB and LHE prior to British Airways return by lower fares and increasing frequencies but turned a blind eye to the ME3 for snatching its loads.PIA can and should do this from MAN asap.
I would not be surprised if BA increases ISB to daily by winter19 and commence LHE.

[SeanM1997]

Does anybody have a reputable source (not a forum) for a start date, frequency or schedule for the new Sialkot to London route?

I have heard it will be 1x weekly B777 Sialkot (SKT) - Karachi (KHI) - London Heathrow (LHR) route

SeanM1997 - available on twitter

[Abbas Ali]

Seems PIA is going to start Sialkot to London flight PK-777 on September 11. Apparently once-a-week flight to be operated every Wednesday with Boeing 777.


Source: PIA

Abbas

[SeanM1997]

From 10 September 2019, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will launch 1x weekly flights between London Heathrow (LHR) and Sialkot (SKT) on B777-200ER:



This route will replace 1 of 2 weekly flights between London Heathrow and Karachi

[Abbas Ali]

PIA starts London to Sialkot flights

LONDON: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will run Sialkot-London-Sialkot from 10th of September this year, it is said in an official statement of PIA.

Initially, this route will be operated once-a-week from Sialkot to Heathrow London every Tuesday whereas the flight from Heathrow London to Sialkot will arrive every Wednesday, PIA’s country manager in UK Siraj Qazi confirmed. The route will provide direct point to point service to Sialkot city and shortest approach to Mirpur Azad Kashmir, Kharian, Gujrat, Jhelum and adjoining areas.

It is worth mentioning that this new-fangled rout will be more significant for the Sikh Yatris who are planning to participate in the celebration of 550th Birthday of Baba Guru Nanak Dev ji. The Sikh pilgrims are likely to opt Sialkot airport route to start their holy pilgrims through visiting Kartarpur Gurdwara with proximity of around 100 kilometers.

According to the schedule issued by PIA, the PIA flight number PK777 will depart at 10:15 am from Sialkot on every Tuesday and will arrive at Heathrow Airport London at 14:50 local time. Flight number PK778 will depart from Heathrow at 18:25 pm and will arrive at Sialkot International Airport at 06:25 Wednesday (next day).

Siraj Qazi said that for the new route, flights will be operated with B773-772 aircraft which has specially been decorated for the new International route operation. He said that PIA started the new route after lots of consultations and feedback from customers. He hoped the new route will help Pakistan’s tourism industry and more people will be likely travelling to Pakistan as most British Pakistanis in Britain originate from the areas close to Sialkot.

Source: The News

[Omairi7]

I am sure PIA has done alot of homework before opening of this route and demand is also there. Lets hope and pray for the success of this route. I would love to see some leased A330s or 787s which can easily handle these routes from smaller stations like sialkot. ANy how Good luck PIA.

[Abbas Ali]

[ba260]

They should just operate flights from such smaller stations like this KHI - SKT - LHR or SKT - ISB - LHR.

[Hamad]

Ihm pretty sure that they'll get a quite good load on this Route.
The only (negative) point is the frequency of only one weekly flight. I mean that gives you no flexibility in booking these Flights except you are traveling one route from/to LHE or ISB.

[SeanM1997]

[Abbas Ali]

Pakistan International adds Sialkot – London Heathrow service from Sep 2019

By Jim Liu

Posted 16 July 2019 06:30

Pakistan International Airlines earlier this month announced the addition of Sialkot – London Heathrow service, operating once a week. First flight from London is scheduled on 10SEP19, Sialkot on 11SEP19. Initially service is operated by 329-seater 777-200ER, switching to 393-seater 777-300ER from the following week.

PK777 SKT1015 – 1450LHR 773 3
PK778 LHR1825 – 0625+1SKT 773 2

With this new addition, existing Karachi – London Heathrow service will be reduced from 2 to 1 weekly.

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... -sep-2019/

[Abbas Ali]

Apparently, PIA Boeing 777-200ER (registration AP-BGJ) is going to perform airline's inaugural London to Sialkot flight PK778 today.

AP-BGJ is expected to arrive in London at 4:00 PM as flight PK785 from Islamabad.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bgj

Flight PK778 to Sialkot is scheduled to depart from London at 6:25 PM.


heathrow.com

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/pk778

In the past, PIA Glasgow to Lahore flight number was PK778.

Abbas