Virgin Atlantic Cargo launches services to Pakistan

For the first time, Virgin Atlantic Cargo is launching services between the UK and Pakistan.

Next week, the carrier will launch flights between London Heathrow and Lahore (from December 7); Manchester and Islamabad (from December 10), and London Heathrow and Islamabad (from December).

In total, the carrier will add more than 66 direct flights each month.

“The UK is the largest export market for Pakistan in Europe, transporting high volumes of goods such as textiles, apparel and machinery,” the carrier informed. “Trade in goods and services between the UK and Pakistan is worth some £3.3bn a year, rising 4.7% year on year in 2019.”

It added that its cargo customers in Pakistan will benefit from connections to markets in the US, as well as in Europe and Africa, via London Heathrow.

Dominic Kennedy, managing director at Virgin Atlantic Cargo, said: “Business opportunities between the UK and Pakistan present an exciting new prospect for our customers, and the whole team look forward to our upcoming launch.

“The import and export market for goods between the UK and Pakistan is extremely healthy, with over 114 million kilograms of cargo moving between Europe and Pakistan each year.

“Virgin Atlantic Cargo is confident of gaining a healthy share of this new market in the weeks and months ahead.”

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Arshad Wali Muhammad, group director at GSSA Gerry’s Group, added: “Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s flights to Pakistan offer a fantastic opportunity for businesses to expand their export base by having direct connection to Europe and North America via Manchester and Heathrow.

“The two destinations in the UK will be a gateway to reach over 300 networks of destinations worldwide.

“With Gerry’s as GSSA for Pakistan, we look forward to including this successful new service within our network.”

Janis Balkens, dnata chief executive of new and emerging markets, commented: “We are excited to extend our long-standing partnership with Virgin Atlantic Cargo to Pakistan and are proud to now also offer our award-winning, safe and reliable services across these new routes.

“We will ensure the success in London Heathrow and Manchester, as well as Islamabad and Lahore, providing our seamless multi-service offering to Virgin Atlantic Cargo and its customers.

“We have been partners for decades in the UK across our cargo operations as well as our travel businesses through the dnataTravel Group and we look forward to replicating this success in Pakistan.”