Manchester MAN to Islamabad ISB flight with Etihad Airways

Flights from Manchester to Islamabad

Flights from Manchester to Islamabad are available daily. They take between 7h and 32h 30min, depending on the carrier you choose, and the number and length of stopovers on the way. You can catch both direct and one- or two-stop flights each day. Most of the airlines that make intermediate stops do so at their central transit hub airports, where you’ll generally have to change planes.

Manchester to Islamabad flight time: Daily Departures

You’ll typically be able to find about six Manchester to Islamabad flights each day, with some airlines operating the route seven days a week, and others a few times weekly. So you can fly between the two cities roughly a couple of dozen times a week. The first flights leave in the early morning, around 07:00 a.m., and the last ones at around 9:00 p.m., which are effectively overnight flights, given the time zone differences.

How long is the journey by flight from Manchester to Islamabad?

The fastest Manchester to Islamabad flights are the direct ones, the shortest of which take about 6h 40min. On the others you’re looking at a travel time of roughly 8h 50min. You obviously won’t have to make any changes on these routes, and they’re available every day of the week, including weekends. There are one-stop flights and the shortest take about 13h to 13h 25min. Some of the cheaper ones can take up to 31h 30min, so have a look at them if you’re travelling on a budget.

Islamabad Monument Tourists. Source: Shutterstock

What are the departure and arrival airports for flights from Manchester to Islamabad?

Departure airport: To fly to Islamabad from Manchester you’ll depart from Manchester Airport (MAN). The easiest way is to get there from the city centre is to take a Northern Rail train, which will take about 15min to travel the 10 miles (16 km). Manchester Airport is one of the UK’s major international airports, offering an expansive duty-free area, fast-food outlets and restaurants. A comprehensive assistance programme is available for passengers with limited mobility.

Arrival airport: Flights to Islamabad land at Islamabad International Airport (ISB), which is only about 15min from the centre of the city. The only thing to be aware of is that there isn’t any public transport available on the route, so it’s a good idea to arrange a hire car when you book your flight, or at the airport. The other option is to catch a taxi. The airport has very good Passenger Facilitation Services, which extends to elderly passengers and those who need airport guidance or luggage. There are also coffee shops and other refreshment outlets.

Which airlines travel from Manchester to Islamabad?

Pakistan International Airlines and Virgin Atlantic are the two airlines operating direct flights between Manchester and Islamabad. PIA offers the shorter 6h 40min flights, while Virgin flights take around 8h 50min. Other airlines that offer one-stop flights are Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways. Turkish Airlines is your fastest option, with flights taking about 13h. Etihad typically takes about 13h 30min, while Qatar Airways flights take from around 13h 30min to around 20h and up to 31h 20min. All of these make one stopover en route, at either Istanbul Airport (IST), Doha International (DOH) or Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH).

Pakistan International Airways flights from Manchester to Islamabad

Pakistan International Airways operates direct flights from Manchester to Islamabad, and these are pretty much the quickest you’ll find, in terms of total travel time. There are two options to choose from: a direct flight that takes about 6h 40min, or a longer direct flight of around 8h 50min. These fly every day of the week, with the faster flights departing at around 9:30 p.m. and landing at roughly the same time in the morning in Islamabad.

Virgin Atlantic flights from Manchester to Islamabad

Virgin Atlantic is the other carrier that offers direct flights to Islamabad from Manchester. These take roughly 8h 50min and are available every day of the week except for Saturdays. You can book one-way or round-trip flights on Virgin Atlantic without incurring any change fees, which is a big advantage of flying direct. These flights are really easy to find on Omio by simply looking at the daily flight schedule and clicking through to book.

Turkish Airlines flights from Manchester to Islamabad

Turkish Airlines offers one-stop flights from Manchester to Islamabad, which take either about 13h or just under 31h 30min. The difference is that the latter requires about a 22h layover in Istanbul, while the other only stops there for about 3h. There are two flights a day, with one leaving in the late morning and the other in the late afternoon. If you’re after the faster of the two, book the morning flight.

Etihad Airways flights from Manchester to Islamabad

Etihad Airways operates a single flight a day between Manchester and Islamabad. It flies a one-stop route, landing in Abu Dhabi on the way, and taking around 13h 25min. It takes off at just after midday UK time, and lands in Islamabad early the following day. You’ll be asked to change aircraft in Abu Dhabi, and the stop takes about 3h 30min.

Qatar Airways flights from Manchester to Islamabad

Qatar Airways offers the most flights per day from Manchester to Islamabad, with about four to choose from. They all fly via Doha, with stopover times varying quite widely, resulting in the quickest flights taking just under 13h 30min and the others taking about 19h 45min and 31h, respectively. The quicker flights depart from Manchester Airport in the early morning and just after lunch time.

Flight Manchester to Islamabad: Services on Board

There’s not much to choose from between the in-flight services on any of the carriers that fly the Manchester-Islamabad route. They all offer the basic comforts for an enjoyable flight in Economy class, with each providing their own extras. You can of course fly Business Class or First Class too. Virgin Atlantic offers free Wi-Fi, a choice of meals, goodie packs for kids and many hours of TV and film entertainment. Turkish Airlines offers USB charging ports on each seat, traditional Turkish meals and similar entertainment variety.

Pakistan International has an Executive Economy class with reclining flat-bed seats that offer much more room, a choice of meals, free Wi-Fi and an extra luggage allowance. Qatar provides complimentary snacks, an amenity kit, a personal entertainment screen, and blankets and pillows. Etihad Airways has Economy Smart Seats with adjustable back support and separate headrests, USB charging points and adjustable holders for digital devices. It also offers an Economy Neighbour-Free ticket, which will give you the whole seat row to yourself.

All the airlines provide limited mobility and hidden disability assistance, and their luggage allowances cover bicycles, which travel as hold luggage. It’s not generally advisable to travel by air with pets, given the stressful nature of the process, but if you need to, the airlines also offer animal transport services. Bear in mind though, that your pet may be subject to quarantine regulations too – it’s not like taking a train trip with your dog in the UK.

How to find cheap flight tickets from Manchester to Islamabad?

The first way of finding cheaper flights tickets from Manchester to Islamabad is to choose the airline that offers the best prices. This may come at the cost of longer flights, but the savings can be significant. You can also book well in advance, when airlines are still trying to fill virtually empty flights and often offer lower prices as a result. Conversely, you can be really flexible with your travel dates, so that you can take advantage of last-minute deals due to cancellations, which again obliges airlines to fill the seats and get maximum economy from the flight. Also look for flights that make more stopovers, as the additional travel time may be worth it when it comes to ticket cost savings.

Islamabad Mosque Shah Faisal. Source: Shutterstock

To Islamabad by plane—travel tips

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, and the epicentre of its history and culture, making it a treasure chest of tourist attractions, both ancient and modern. There are some famous landmarks that are worth highlighting, like The Pakistan Monument, resembling the petals of a closing flower, symbolising the unification of the country’s four major provinces.

The get an authentic sense of historic Pakistan, visit the LokVirsa Museum, which houses exhibits that range from ancient art and pottery, to traditional musical instruments, architectural relics and religious artefacts. For its sheer architecture, the Faisal Mosque is something to be seen, with its modern architecture and intricately laid glass and marble mosaics.

You can also explore rural Pakistan nearby Islamabad by taking a short trip to Saidpur village, where you can experience the traditional way of life and eat home-cooked traditional meals in tiny restaurants in the foothills of the Himalayas.