Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plans to add two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to its fleet in November, marking the start of an expansion aimed at increasing its long-haul flight capacity.
The national carrier has signed an agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways to acquire the aircraft, which will be used for direct flights between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
PIA said the move would help it meet rising passenger demand and offer better connections between the two countries. The additional aircraft are expected to support flights between Pakistan and different destinations in the UK.
The agreement comes as PIA looks to expand its international operations and improve services on key routes. The airline said the Dreamliners would mark the beginning of its fleet expansion.
Under the arrangement, Norse Atlantic will provide the aircraft along with crew, maintenance and insurance. The partnership will also allow the airline to redeploy aircraft returning to its fleet for other operations.
PIA chief executive officer Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat said the UK remained an important market for the national carrier and that the agreement would help increase capacity on routes where more options were needed.
He said the additional aircraft would give passengers greater choice and better connectivity when travelling between Pakistan and the UK.
Hayat also described the agreement as the first step towards introducing Boeing 787 Dreamliners to the Pakistani market, expressing hope that the aircraft would offer passengers a more premium travel experience.
Norse Atlantic chief executive officer Eivind Roald said the agreement was part of the airline’s strategy to deploy its aircraft through arrangements covering aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance.
He said the company was pleased to support PIA’s long-haul expansion and provide more travel options for the large Pakistani community living in the UK.
Roald added that the agreement could mark the beginning of a broader strategic partnership between the two airlines.
The addition of the Dreamliners is expected to strengthen PIA’s capacity on international routes, with the UK among its key overseas markets. However, the airline has yet to detail the specific destinations, flight schedules or the number of additional services it plans to introduce under the agreement.
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