Airblue (Islamabad) will drop all flights to Manchester starting tomorrow (January 22). The airline issued this short statement:

Due to route rationalization, Airblue will be suspending flights between Pakistan and the United Kingdom effective on January 22, 2014. This includes the Lahore-Manchester and the Islamablad-Manchester routes.  Passengers holding tickets issued by a travel agent for flights on or after January 22, may contact their travel agent for full refund without cancellation fees.  Passengers holding tickets issued directly by Airblue may contact Airblue directly for full refund without cancellation fees.

Airblue is now concentrating its fleet around the Airbus A320 after returning both A319s.

Copyright Photo: Nik French/AirlinersGallery.com. Airblue was leasing two Airbus A340-300s for the routes. Both are now being returned with the retirement of the two routes to Manchester. Airbus A340-313X AP-EDE (msn 216) lands at Manchester.

Airblue: