Virgin Atlantic to launch three new Pakistan routes
James ChappleVirgin Atlantic will launch three new routes to Pakistan later this year.
Virgin will fly from Heathrow to Lahore and Islamabad, and from Manchester to Islamabad.
Seats will go on sale in September, subject to regulatory approval, with flights due to get under way in December.
Three classes will be available – Upper, Premium, and Virgin’s three-tier Economy class (Light, Classic and Delight).
The airline said the move came in response to "large, fast-growing demand" for VFR travel from customers in the UK, as well as in the US.
Virgin said US travellers will be able to connect via Heathrow from New York, Los Angles and several other major US cities, while connections to European destinations will be available through Virgin’s codeshare and interline partners.
“Pakistan is an extremely exciting opportunity for us," said Virgin’s chief commercial officer Juha Jarvinen. "It boasts one of the largest foreign-born populations in both the UK and the US and, as people start to travel to visit loved ones, we’re anticipating the demand to visit friends and relatives will increase post Covid-19.
"Both Lahore and Islamabad are popular year-round destinations and we look forward to welcoming travellers as demand for leisure and business travel gradually increases to the region.
Jarvinen added: “We also see a significant opportunity to increase competition in the US–Pakistan market. Using the strength of our transatlantic services, we’re able to offer customers the shortest journey to and from destinations in the US such as New York, Los Angeles and Washington by connecting through Heathrow."
Alison Blackburne, acting head of the British High Commission in Pakistan, added: "Virgin Atlantic planning to start flights to Pakistan is great news for the hundreds of thousands of people who regularly travel between our two nations, as well as a boost to UK-Pakistan trade links. We look forward to welcoming Virgin Atlantic to this fantastic country."
Virgin restarted passenger flights on 20 July after a three-month hiatus owing to Covid-19.
It is currently operating flights to New York JFK, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Barbados and Miami, with further routes being added throughout September and October.
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