They only need to stop at MAN en-route to JFK purely as a customs formality, then it runs JFK-LHE non stop on the way back.
*cough* The US know Pakistan is a semi-terrorist state and insist all transit pax are rescreened in the UK before entering US airspace. They dare not allow Pakistan-US direct. PIA also operate the B777-200LR.
realise the Government has accepted the logic of using Birmingham as an overflow airport for the South East.
Excellent idea of course!
The governemt may be genuine but they talk a lot of rubbish. The real issue is they talk the talk, get the ministerial job, pull the levers of power and squat diddily happens in the real world. It's very unlikely, was and still is. I have enough issues getting to Stansted without bothering my bum about Birmingham. Even with the fast rail links, to the Southerners, it doesn't work. Like "Why not use Gatwick as an overflow for Heathrow" getting asked for the millionth time.