UK organises charter fights to return stranded Brits

Islamabad: Ten charter flights, organised by the UK Government, will take around 2,500 stranded British travellers from Pakistan back to the UK. Flights will run from Islamabad and Lahore to both London and Manchester.   To book their seats, and find out more information, British travellers should visit the Pakistan TA Return to the UK page on GOV.UK.  More than 7,500 British Nationals who do not usually reside in Pakistan have already returned to the UK from Pakistan by commercial means, as the FCO has worked with the Government of Pakistan to keep routes running and airports operating.  

Foreign Office Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, said: 
“Thousands more British travellers stranded in Pakistan can now fly home thanks to these 10 charter flights. I understand this has been a difficult period for those wanting to return and I am grateful for their patience.  These extra flights will bring around 2,500 more people home – joining the 7,500 British nationals who do not reside in Pakistan who returned on commercial flights following extensive co-operation between the UK and Pakistan governments.   This has been a hugely challenging operation and I’m grateful for the hard work of all those involved in making it happen”.  British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner, said: “I know how stressful and difficult the suspension of Pakistan’s international flights has been, leaving so many British travellers unable to get home.

There has been a huge effort from the teams across the Pakistan network to help people to return to the UK. And while we have got over 7,500 people back to the UK already, these charter flights will help us to get thousands more back home next week.”
The flight schedule is:   • From Islamabad to London Heathrow – 21, 22, 23 April  • From Islamabad to Manchester – 24, 25, 26, 27April  • From Lahore to London Heathrow – 22, 24 April  • From Lahore to Manchester – 26 April. The flights are expected to cost £527 and are free for Under 2s.