99% Of All Airlines Out Of Manchester Grounded !

[Dinger2]

Living within half a mile of Manchester airport and fully understanding all the measures being taken during the lockdown period . I would say 99% of all air traffic has ceased. All that is except for PIA - Pakistan International Airways ,which appears to be operating its normal service . How is this possible ? ?

[Mamyalynne]

These are scheduled arrivals for tomorrow up till 3pm, I wouldn't say that looked normal.

https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/flight-information/arrivals/

[Buenchico]

Nearly all flights into and out of UK airports are carrying people heading back to their home countries and/or carrying freight:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52319575

[Buenchico]

PIA's website says: "In compliance with the instructions of Government of Pakistan, as well as travel restrictions imposed by almost all countries, PIA's international flight operations have been suspended till 30th April 2020"

. . . but: "A limited number of special flights are in operation".

https://www.piac.com.pk/travel-updates-and-information

So the PIA aircraft you're seeing aren't operating their regular scheduled service. They'll just be repatriation flights and/or carrying cargo.

[sanmac]

Meaning bringing back British citizens from Pakistan?

[Buenchico]

It could be either way, Sanmac, but on some international routes there's definitely more traffic in one direction than in the other. For example (from my BBC link above):
"Alitalia said the four daily flights it is now operating between Rome and London are "quite empty" flying into Heathrow.

However, on the return leg to Rome, its aircraft are "almost full" of Italian citizens who want to fly back to Italy. Those people travelling to Italy must fill in a declaration to say that their journey is essential"

[sanmac]

OK, Buenchico. In the present situation there are still too many people flying hither and yon, and what good is a signed slip of paper saying that the purpose of your traveling is "essential"?

[Buenchico]

That's the way that Italian bureaucracy works, Sanmac ;-)

My friends in northern Italy have to fill in a form every time they go to the shops or, for example, when they go out to feed a colony of feral cats down the road.

[sanmac]

I realize that this isn't the song thread, but it's a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack:)

[KARL]

There are still quite a few people in different (all ?) parts of the world who now want to go to their own countries. Chris has given one or two examples, there are also British citizens seeking to return to Britain, as evident from occasional calls for the UK government to do something/more about it. That is where these flights still operating come in and, as Chris has pointed out, their mainstay is actually freight. There have been several media items telling of all this, including passenger aircraft being used to carry freight lashed down in the passenger cabin (no passengers) in addition to a full belly. There is currently an enormous demand for freight space because in the past freight formed part of the payload on most scheduled passenger flights - most scheduled passenger flights (reportedly around 90%) mare now grounded, entire fleets of them. This is an unusual situation but none of it is strange, it makes sense if/when you look at it.

[Zacs-Master]

PIA currently have 3 flights heading to the UK. 2 to HR and one to Manc.