PIA stopped from operating special flights for UK, Canada

E-Paper | October 01, 2026

PIA stopped from operating special flights for UK, Canada

Mohammad Asghar Published March 27, 2020

National carrier regrets inconvenience but says that passengers' and crew's safety comes first. — AFP/File

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RAWALPINDI: The sharp spread of coronavirus cases in the United Kingdom and Canada has forced the government to withdraw the permission it gave to the Pakistan International Airlines to operate four special flights to the two countries.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said in a statement on Thursday that in view of the recent spike in the number of diagnosed coronavirus cases in the UK and Canada, the government, keeping the health and safety of citizens in consideration, had withdrawn the permission it gave to the PIA to operate its special flights to these countries.

Mr Hafeez said that in view of the government’s decision, the PIA had cancelled planned special flights to London, Manchester, Birmingham and Toronto scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

He said the PIA regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers but added that passengers and crew’s safety and health were always the foremost important element for the national flag carrier.

“The changing dynamics may be regretful, but the pandemic is forcing authorities and governments globally to continuously review their strategies to fight this challenge and ensure maximum protection to the people,” he said.

The spokesman asked passengers to contact the PIA call centre for more information and updates.

“Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay indoors,” the spokesman said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Pakistan International Airlines had decided to operate four special flights on the international route on humanitarian grounds for the people stranded in Pakistan due to closure of international flight operations.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez had said that of the four flights, three flights would be operated for the UK and one for Canada.

A PIA flight PK-781 was scheduled to take off from Lahore for Toronto on Friday, March 27, while PK-709 was planned from Islamabad to Manchester on Saturday, March 28.

The flight PK-757 was to be operated from Islamabad to London on Saturday, March 28 while PK 791 was scheduled from Islamabad to Birmingham on Saturday, March 28.

Due to rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Britain and Canada, the government decided to withdraw the relaxation of operating four special flights.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2020

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Thomas

Mar 27, 2020 07:24am

Wise decision.

Recommend 0

Babar Azam

Mar 27, 2020 07:29am

These are far superior countries. Treatment is much better there.

Recommend 0

Nazir Gilani

Mar 27, 2020 07:53am

World War II in Europe was much worse than this. Europe will survive. They were not ready to meet the speed of the virus.

Recommend 0

Nazir Gilani

Mar 27, 2020 07:54am

Airliners worldwide did much in spreading this disease.

Recommend 0

Nitin

Mar 27, 2020 07:55am

Why were the flights announced in the first place if you did not want them to go. Its playing with peoples emotions, will backfire when you want their support in future.

Recommend 0

Atif

Mar 27, 2020 08:05am

@Babar Azam, the ground reality is opposite, believe it or not.

Recommend 0

Moin Kamal

Mar 27, 2020 08:25am

Canada is safe and it is all the media hype. The stupid decision of PIA as flights are operating normally. Canada has one of the best health care in the world.

Recommend 0

ABBAs kd

Mar 27, 2020 08:29am

These foreign citizens want to "leave" Pakistan & go back to their countries of residence. No one is "coming" into Pakistan via these special flights. So why is not Pakistani authorities allowing these thousands of foreigners "leave" by the flights out ?

Recommend 0

jaredlee007

Mar 27, 2020 08:36am

The govt. should have taken time before giving false hopes to people.

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Aine-E-Akbar

Mar 27, 2020 08:49am

So as usual PIA has done nothing. The permission was withdrawn by respective Govt.

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Adnan A

Mar 27, 2020 08:58am

Good call in all aspects

Recommend 0

Ali

Mar 27, 2020 08:58am

They did not stop due to COVID19, high court had showed serious concern yesterday abt these special flights which were operated for our elite class childerns who were stuck in different countries

Recommend 0

Syed Ahmed

Mar 27, 2020 09:02am

@Babar Azam, keeps your opinion to your self

Recommend 0

NORI

Mar 27, 2020 09:29am

It was other way round. UK and Canada ordered PIA to stop the flights.

Recommend 0

amir

Mar 27, 2020 09:32am

While all the countries in the world are trying to help their citizens, PIA is charging 3300 Canadian dollars for one way flight from Karachi to Toronto. Yes, it is a chartered flight which shall return empty, but the Pakistani origin passengers who travel in PIA deserve a less greedy approach. PIA should not forget they travel in these planes with dirty washroom, unhygienic food, malfunctioning airconditioning and complete absence of entertainment system. What a shame. What a time to exploit

Recommend 0

Ching Lung Khan

Mar 27, 2020 09:33am

PIA was banned from flying into USA and Canada

Recommend 0

Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Mar 27, 2020 10:04am

Disappointing news for all stranded passengers in Pakistan, but, I agree the well-being of the PIA staff is equally important and paramount. Let's hope the situation will change in due course and all stranded passengers be able to go back to UK and Canada!

Recommend 0

M. Emad

Mar 27, 2020 10:06am

PIA already a loss-making airlines.

Recommend 0

Fastrack

Mar 27, 2020 10:14am

@M. Emad, Cute. So why is nobody buying your Air India despite desperation by Indian government?

Recommend 0

ACEGIKtime

Mar 27, 2020 10:20am

Strange that when ex PM Nawaz was saying treatment in UK is better , everyone was opposing.

Recommend 0

@Who cares

Mar 27, 2020 11:25am

@Fastrack, Do you ever read what you have written before posting, it seems like your hatred has overtaken your senses

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sara

Mar 27, 2020 11:27am

this is a lie. the flights stopped for money reasons. the flight would be ONE way. its not like you are bringing passengers back with covid-19 symptoms. and these countries have special places for airline crew. and also, if you did cancel, why keep raising the rates every hour.

Recommend 0

Vorshal Handa

Mar 27, 2020 11:29am

@Atif, Nope. You are wrong. Period.

Recommend 0

sara

Mar 27, 2020 11:29am

@NORI, no they did not. PIA caused so much confusion that people gathered asn waited at their office. they probbably spread virus more there.

Recommend 0

Khush Aamdeed

Mar 27, 2020 12:01pm

PIA was basically kicked out from these countries.

Recommend 0

Skeptic

Mar 27, 2020 12:19pm

@Moin Kamal, So does that mean Pakistan should send all its Coronavirus patients to Canada for treatment!? I bet you, none of them will return, so PIA will not need flights from Canada to Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Mar 27, 2020 12:23pm

PIA has decided to send empty planes to Canada and UK to bring back our stranded citizens from both the countries but lately PIA cancelled those flights resulting in that all of our compatriots stuck in Canada and UK will have to stay at the preset locations instead returning to Pakistan. Let me prove that statistically speaking both Canada and UK are very much attacked by corona and vulnerable as compared to my beloved Pakistan. Canada population is 37,742,154 and 4,403 have been inflicted with corona while 39 of them have died as well. UK population is 67,886,011 while its 11,658 are affected by the virus and 578 have lost their lives too. Pakistan population is 220,892,340 and out of this 1,227 got infected with the virus and from them 9 have died. Figures themselves prove that alhamdo lillah Pakistan is much safer than the advanced Canada and UK. I wonder why and how PIA decided to operate special flights and then cancel. It reminds me, think before you speak. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Recommend 0

ABE

Mar 27, 2020 12:33pm

Time for PIA to fold up and RIP. Sometime later this year, perhaps a new carrier will be born and resume flights, under a new management, new brand, new approach and a clean slate.

Recommend 0

Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Mar 27, 2020 12:56pm

PIA decided to send empty planes to Canada and UK to bring back our stranded citizens from both the countries but lately PIA cancelled those flights resulting in that all of our compatriots stuck in Canada and UK will have to stay at the preset locations instead returning to Pakistan. Let me prove that statistically speaking both Canada and UK are very much attacked by corona and vulnerable as compared to my beloved Pakistan. Canada population is 37,742,154 and 4,403 have been inflicted with corona while 39 of them have died as well. UK population is 67,886,011 while its 11,658 are affected by the virus and 578 have lost their lives.Pakistan population is 220,892,340 and out of this 1,227 got infected with the virus and from them 9 have died. Figures themselves prove that alhamdo lillah Pakistan is much safer than the advanced Canada and UK. I wonder why PIA decided to operate flights and cancel. It reminds me, think before you speak. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi/Kuwait/zaidi.iqbalhadi@hotmail.com

Recommend 0

Akhtar

Mar 27, 2020 01:02pm

I can understand Pakistan stopping incoming people from U.K. and Canada but leaving the country. That does not make sense. If they are Citizens of the U.K. they should be allowed to go back to their families. At the moment Pakistan is keeping foreign people prisoners. Pakistan does not have a good health system should these people become ill.

Recommend 0

Ahmed

Mar 27, 2020 01:26pm

Did the PiA do any homework before announcing these flights. This is what happens when unprofessional people are running an airline.

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Majid

Mar 27, 2020 01:33pm

So why is the call centre saying Flights r still operating ??

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Li-N-Ja

Mar 27, 2020 01:43pm

This should have been done long back. We did this after huge known number of infected people entered the country. Now just keep counting the numbers every day..

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Mar 27, 2020 03:01pm

No doubt, the safety, security and protection of PIA's valued customers, clients, supporters, fans, peers, pals, admirers and patrons always come first.

Recommend 0

Taimoor Khan

Mar 27, 2020 03:01pm

Good decision. There was a lady which just recently arrived from UK but unfortunately pass away due to this infection. Imagine what would have happened to all those passengers in her flight! Come what may, protection of Pakistan and its citizens is the priority, something which the Indian trolls in comment section is clearly cannot digest.

Recommend 0

Fahad

Mar 27, 2020 03:11pm

@Akhtar, Hundreds of people in a closed circulated environment in planes are not just dangerous to crew, but to each other. It's not like corona will attack in future, it's already here. PIA is universally hated alright, but it's a good decision by the government. Gotta call spade a spade. In fact, should have done this way earlier.

Recommend 0

Sayyed

Mar 27, 2020 03:31pm

@NORI, I don’t believe that as true, London Heathrow is receiving flights, And UK Government has asked all its citizens who are abroad to return home. However Pakistan government has closed all international flights, Amidst this, PIA announce some “special” flights, how is this possible when all international flights are closed in and out of Pakistan, Add to this the fact that Qatar airways flights in and out of Pakistan are operating ( see Islamabad airport website, if you don’t believe me ) incompetence maybe, some other motive maybe, as someone else posted about the size of the problem. Its minuscule in Pakistan as opposed to many other countries.

Recommend 0

Captain.Raheel

Mar 27, 2020 03:46pm

@Babar Azam, matter of the fact sir it's the other way around. Pakistan is doing an excellent job in fight against Coronavirus compared to Canada according to canadian news. So keep it up and be safe.

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Wahab Hasan Wasti

Mar 27, 2020 04:16pm

@amir, you are 100% right I am waiting here since last one week after cancellation of flight, I called PIA after 5 or 6 hrs they informed it is CASH / FULL FIGHT, no place, I told them it is our right we have bought ticket long ago, we are returning passenger, inspite of greedy practice by PIA, where there are no pillow, they travel in these planes dirty washroom, unhygienic food, malfunctioning airconditioning and complete absence of entertainment, bad customer services, cheating overseas Pakistani, they are sending foreign exchange for country in return they treat here O/Pak very rough and bad, PIA chairman should order imanagement,nquiry who initiated this CASH/CHARTERED flight ignoring ticket holder. Shame to PIA and its management.

Recommend 0

Syed Amin

Mar 27, 2020 04:27pm

PIA was charging 350 000 Pakistani rupees per person one way to Toronto. Only couple of people booked.

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Tahir M

Mar 27, 2020 04:31pm

Sad day for the PIA crews. They will be missing their shopping sprees.

Recommend 0

NACParis

Mar 27, 2020 04:35pm

@Wahab Hasan Wasti, You are right. It was a well planned move to rip off people. All passenger were asked to purchase a new one way ticket as they refused to honor already issued return tickets. Refund will be a big hurdle as probably they have used collected the amounts to pay for salaries.

Recommend 0

Vikas

Mar 27, 2020 04:48pm

No guts. Scared people. Indians have never shied whatever the condition to bring back its citizens.

Recommend 0

Tahir M

Mar 27, 2020 05:11pm

@Vikas, Hi, you are out of touch with reality. Outbound UK citizens travelling on Air India have been left stranded in Delhi without a hope of returning. UK agencies have now taken upon the job of their return.

Recommend 0

Tahir M

Mar 27, 2020 05:48pm

Pakistan is doing much better than UK. Passengers arriving at London Airports a few days back have noticed not a single passenger was tested for infection or were carrying the deadly virus. All were allowed to leave the airport without even a simple check. Talk about precautions and our daily news briefings from Boris Johnson telling us of the dangers of spreading of the virus.

Recommend 0

Pindi Karachi

Mar 27, 2020 06:19pm

It was stopped by their government as dirty Pakistanis can bring viruses and flu from here

Recommend 0

Zark

Mar 27, 2020 06:45pm

to all people who say Pakistan is doing much better, please remember that its all depends upon how many you have tested, Canada is testing over 10,000 people a day for Covid-19, how much Pakistan is doing? your number of testing directly depends upon number of patient you going to identify. you will never know person sitting beside you is infected or not if that person is not tested or never visited hospitals

Recommend 0

Vorshal Handa

Mar 27, 2020 06:50pm

@Tahir M, Now, that is a reason besides the obvious.

Recommend 0

JAVED RAHMAN

Mar 27, 2020 07:28pm

@Iqbal Hadi Zaidi, in Pakistan the health care is very poor, vast population is not being tested for the virus, if testing starts infected will be in millions.

Recommend 0

salman

Mar 27, 2020 07:41pm

My question to these people is why did they travel in the first place, my friend was supposed to leave for Pakistan on March 6, 2020 and I pleaded with him not to go. Luckily he listened to me. Canada put out a warning on March 10, 2020 asking all its citizens to return immediately "while commercial flights are operating", our cavalier attitude allows us to forgo those requested and not all these people are stranded. No government in the world has the capacity to airlift large number of their citizens quickly. The best advice is stay indoors and follow instructions.

Recommend 0

Chetan Jadhav

Mar 27, 2020 11:01pm

All empty flight will fly to China. This is only last hope for pakistan.

Recommend 0

Javed Arshad

Mar 27, 2020 11:45pm

Flight restrictions are implemented by CAA and government, how come PIA booked flights without getting clearance from concerned authorities. This demands a proper investigation and punishment for the culprits.

Recommend 0

Fradi

Mar 27, 2020 11:47pm

@Moin Kamal, We are all seeing the gorgeous health facilities of western countries ,especially in italy ,spain,and now even in u.k .Dont worry ,,my beloved country is blessed with patriots and we dont need the needy out here and requests them to go and carry on there labours in canada because ofcourse canada has far superior system ,,,hope message is conveyed

Recommend 0

Atif

Mar 27, 2020 11:52pm

@ABBAs kd, sorry sir you are not aware of the ground reality.

Recommend 0

ashar

Mar 28, 2020 10:25pm

Why these stranded people took so long to decide to go back. This issue was hot for a month now. My family came back in Mid Feb, everyone knew that you can get stuck if you don't take timely decision. Now I hear same news from other parts of world from Pakistani want to come back home, why they are still there and didn't decide to come back sooner, now its government's fault?

Recommend 0

ratan bhai

Mar 28, 2020 11:54pm

PIA sucks, I use etihad, Qatar and emrites to fly from Pak.

Recommend 0

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