The letter read: “The vast majority would have travelled to visit family, including elderly relatives, whom they have not seen for over a year.

“They would already have paid for return flights but are now in a position where they will have to pay for new flights in order to return before the ban is put in place.”

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Pakistan International Airlines and Polish carrier Enter Air have arranged extra direct flights in recent days.

According to data from the website FlightRadar24, five flights were scheduled to land in England direct from the Pakistani capital Islamabad yesterday.

Some of the last-minute seats were going for more than £1,400.