Virgin Atlantic ceases operations in Pakistan, last flight departs Islamabad.
British carrier Virgin Atlantic has drawn the curtain on its service to Pakistan, with its final flight, VS379, lifting off from Islamabad International Airport to London Heathrow on Sunday.
The airline had first threaded its routes into Islamabad Airport's airspace in December 2020, embarking on a schedule of seven weekly sojourns. The initial flight plan involved a quartet of journeys to Manchester and a trio to London Heathrow.
Later, the airline streamlined its operations, focusing solely on a thrice-weekly service to London Heathrow airport.
The decision to clip its wings in Pakistan was not taken lightly, according to a press release from the airline in February. The statement lamented any inconvenience that this operational overhaul might impose on its passengers. At the same time, it expressed gratitude to its clientele, personnel, collaborators, and authorities for their unwavering support throughout the past two years.
"Regrettably, we've reached the difficult juncture of suspending our services between London Heathrow and Pakistan," the statement revealed. "From December 2020, we've proudly facilitated options for customers journeying between the UK's London and Manchester, and Islamabad and Lahore in Pakistan. Our operations also added crucial cargo capacity, delivering indispensable medical supplies during this period."
The airline assured that it would reach out to customers booked for travel beyond the mentioned dates, providing options including rescheduling or a complete refund.
However, Virgin Atlantic threw a word of caution for those customers who reserved their flights via third-party agents, urging them to contact their booking agents to explore potential alternatives.
