News: New Islamabad flights from Leeds Bradford
Flights > News > # 1796 (14/06/2008)
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is launching flights from Leeds Bradford to Islamabad this summer.
PIA will operate twice weekly flights to the Pakistani capital on Wednesdays and Saturdays from July 2.
A spokesman for Leeds Bradford airport said: “We are extremely pleased to have secured the services of PIA to deliver this important flagship service.
“A direct flight to Islamabad is a major achievement for the airport and we are proud of our success.
“It is excellent news for Bradford and the entire Yorkshire region that we serve, confirming that Leeds Bradford International Airport is Yorkshire’s premier international gateway.”
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Comment:
Last time an airline tried to operate flights to Pakistan from Leeds Bradford, back in June 2005, the operation barely lasted three months. The Swedish airline Swefly appeared to have extended itself well beyond its means by trying to operate flights to Lahore via its base at Stockholm’s Skavsta airport. It has to go down as one of the most bizarre and ill-conceived route launches of all time.
As the national airline of Pakistan, PIA has the advantage of state funding behind it. PIA has previously been banned from flying within the European Union because it was using aircraft that were considered unsafe, but the carrier’s fleet has now been thoroughly overhauled.
PIA has decided to start flights from Leeds Bradford to the Pakistani capital Islamabad, rather than larger cities such as Lahore or Karachi, but there is plenty of demand for these flights nonetheless. It is also worth noting that PIA already offers regular flights to Lahore and Karachi from Manchester, whereas the nearest UK airport serving Islamabad is Birmingham International.
