VS Announced Pakistan

VS has just announced plans to launch to Pakistan both Lahore and Islamabad from Heathrow and Islamabad from Manchester.

Very interesting news and I imagine reflects an opportunistic move with PIA the national airline of Pakistan recently banned from flying in Europe. It did make me wonder whether VS is effectively looking at this opportunity (now their future is secured) to redraw there route map based on where is attractive at the moment. Also maybe suggests that with demand expected to be lower on the whole current multi frequency routes may remain on-daily permitting these other routes?

To me, this suggests a much more nible VS who will go wherever there is an opportunity. Less focused on the US and more worldwide. India is expected to announce an air bridge of sorts soon. This is 100% moving in on the back of PIAs issues. BA only recently returned to Islamabad.

Moves like this have to be the future.

The current situation in the US has proved just how risky the previous VS strategy of putting most of its eggs in one basket was.

Echo the others here. It seems a combination of VS pivoting away from being reliant on the US (a notable strategy from the Kreeger era in particular and one I don't blame VS for wanting to move away from given it's heavily exposed to the borders being closed) and capitalising on PIA being blacklisted. There is a large MAN-Pakistan market in particular that's spread out between PIA and the ME3, so plenty of scope for O&D traffic as well as a few opportunities for US connections depending on timings. VS must also seem confident in the security arrangements given BA's recent return.

From a casual observation of PIA flights that have arrived into MAN in the past, VS could make a lot of money in excess luggage fees on these flights.

Diversification outside the US will be necessary for the airline’s survival. I’m glad to see VS innovating and looking for new markets.

I think Pakistan is a smart choice because it’s a visiting friends and relatives market, so it relies neither on business nor tourist traffic (both of which could continue to be stifled in the coming months).

A smart move by VS to fly East & fill some of the void left by PIA's UK/EU ban.

The routes could be "interesting" for crew... I've got a friend who works at MAN and some of the tales she has to tell about the PIA flights are, well, interesting to say the least.

In a not altogether unsurprising move, BA is reportedly seeking permission from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority to start operating flights to Lahore.

[mitchja]

More details about the flights released today via routesonline:

London Heathrow – Islamabad eff 12DEC20 3 weekly 787-9
VS378 LHR1230 – 0100+1ISB 789 136
VS379 ISB0330 – 0700LHR 789 247

London Heathrow – Lahore eff 13DEC20 4 weekly 787-9
VS364 LHR2150 – 1020+1LHE 789 x136
VS365 LHE1325 – 1700LHR 789 x247

Manchester – Islamabad eff 10DEC20 4 weekly 787-9
VS362 MAN1235 – 0100+1ISB 789 x136
VS363 ISB0330 – 0700MAN 789 x247

I believe MAN>MCO is also getting a B789 later this year (if flights start) so the B789's are being used at MAN this Winter.

0330 departures ex-Islamabad? Sounds like fun!

Useful for TATL connections though I guess.

Indeed, I think BOM also started with a 3am-ish departure for an early morning UK arrival.

789 into MAN would suggest to me that we may be waving goodbye to the A333s very soon. A332s even sooner.

https://simpleflying.com/amp/?marfeelContext=s_d

Sour grapes from PIA methinks. They’ve been used to having routes such as MAN to themselves for years with competitors all coming and going in the meantime. If I was PIA, I would focus on getting their house in order first rather than run to to the government.