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Pakistan Airlines Leases Heathrow Slots to Saudia for Summer 2025

ByAIron Newsman February 16, 2025February 16, 2025

Pakistan International Airlines Initiates Slot Swap at London Heathrow for Summer 2025

LONDON – Pakistan International Airlines (PK), the national flag carrier of Pakistan, has officially submitted a slot swap request to Airport Coordination Limited (ACL) for its operations at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) during the Summer 2025 season. This strategic move is designed to enhance operational efficiency and passenger services for both PIA and Saudi Airlines (SV).

The proposed arrangement involves leasing slots to Saudi Airlines between April 5 and October 25, 2025, allowing for a seamless exchange of services at one of the busiest airports in the world.

Pakistan Airlines London Slot Swaps

The slot swap will impact PIA’s current arrival and departure slots at 1335 hours and 1600 hours, respectively. These slots, operated by a 393-seat Boeing 777 aircraft, are crucial for PIA’s Lahore and Karachi routes. In exchange, Saudi Airlines will utilize these slots for their Riyadh service with a 289-seat Boeing 789 aircraft.

Key details of the slot swap include:

Arrival Flight: SV108 at 2300 hours
Departure Flight: SV109 at 2305 hours
Operational Terminal: Terminal 4 for both airlines

This agreement establishes a six-day operational pattern, facilitating efficient flight schedules for both PIA and Saudi Airlines.

Background on Slot Adjustments

This slot swap follows an announcement from Vietnam Airlines (VN), which plans to return two slots to PIA starting April 5, 2025. These slots will also be leased to Saudi Airlines for the Summer 2025 season. Currently, Vietnam Airlines operates flights VN051 and VN050 between London Heathrow and Saigon, utilizing a 274-seat Boeing 789 aircraft with similar slot timings.

Saudia Strengthening Dubai Network

In addition to the Heathrow operations, Saudi Airlines is also enhancing its network at Dubai International Airport (DXB) through a separate slot swap arrangement with Azerbaijan Airlines (J2). This collaboration will take effect from March 30 to October 25, 2025, and will cover their evening flight schedules.

Azerbaijan Airlines:
- Arrival Flight: J2015 at 2110 hours
- Departure Flight: J2016 at 2225 hours
Saudi Airlines:
- Arrival Flight: SV584 at 2205 hours
- Departure Flight: SV585 at 2305 hours

Both carriers will maintain their high standards of service, operating Airbus A320 aircraft configured with 156 seats. This adjustment is expected to affect approximately 210 flight pairs during the Summer 2025 season.

For more information on international flight operations and related updates, visit the Airport Coordination Limited website.

Conclusion

The slot swap initiative by Pakistan International Airlines signifies an important step in optimizing flight operations and enhancing passenger experience at London Heathrow. As the aviation industry continues to adapt to changing demands, such arrangements will play a critical role in ensuring smooth connectivity for travelers.

We encourage readers to share their thoughts on this development or check out related articles on aviation trends and airline partnerships.

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