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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Patrick Grafton-Green

British Airways London to Pakistan flights resume after more than 10 years

British Airways: 80 flights were cancelled on Monday (Picture: PA)

British Airways will resume flights to Pakistan today, more than a decade after the route was suspended following a hotel bombing.

BA pulled out of the country after the attack at Islamabad's Marriott Hotel in September 2008, which left at least 54 people dead and many more injured, including six British citizens.

It will be the only Western airline to serve Pakistan when flights between London Heathrow and Islamabad resume on Sunday night.

The service, scheduled to fly three times a week, will be operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and will serve the Pakistani capital's main international airport.

British Airways said it will offer "bespoke services" including a halal meal option in every class of cabin and ensuring sauces used in meals do not include alcohol or pork.

It revealed there has been "considerable interest" from its Urdu-speaking Pakistani and British Pakistani cabin crew to work on the flights.

Andrew Brem, chief commercial officer at British Airways, said: "The anticipation from customers and colleagues has been palpable and we hope customers in both the UK and Pakistan will enjoy the classically British service we offer, with thoughtful bespoke touches."

Aftab Khan is one of the crew operating the inaugural flight, which is due to depart London at 9.15pm.

He said: "To be chosen to operate this flight, with my close family links to Pakistan, is a real honour."

British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew previously said British Airways was joining an "increasing number of British companies doing business in Pakistan".

Additional reporting by Press Association

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