British Airways is set to resume its direct flights to the Pakistan capital, Islamabad this winter. Flights will restart on Monday, December 1, 2003 and will be available for sale from today (Wednesday, September 24, 2003).

The thrice-weekly flights from London Heathrow will depart on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and from Islamabad on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Dale Moss, British Airways director of sales, said: “We are delighted that we are now able to resume our flights to Islamabad. As the only European carrier operating flights to the northern region of the country, we provide an important link between Europe and Pakistan. We look forward to being able to offer our customers a direct service once again.”

Flights were suspended in September 2001 due to concerns about security in the region.

Geoff Want, the airline’s director of safety and security, said: “Since our flights were suspended our team of security experts has worked closely with the Pakistan authorities and the British government to keep the situation under close review. A number of additional, robust and sustainable security measures have been introduced.

“We have undertaken a thorough review of security arrangements at Islamabad airport and we are now satisfied that it is safe for us to resume our flights. We will not fly to any destination unless we are satisfied it is safe for us to do so.”

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