Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has entered a new phase of fleet modernisation with the arrival of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at Islamabad International Airport on Sunday.
The aircraft arrived from London on PIA flight PK-786, marking the first time a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has been inducted into the fleet of a Pakistani airline.
PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat, accompanied by senior officials and his team, welcomed the aircraft upon its arrival at the airport.
The wide-body aircraft has been acquired on lease from Norwegian airline Norse Atlantic Airways as part of PIA’s efforts to expand its international operations and improve passenger facilities.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner features modern aviation technology, an in-flight entertainment system and a spacious cabin designed to provide passengers with a more comfortable travel experience.
A PIA spokesperson said the airline aims to bring its passenger services in line with international standards by improving onboard facilities and enhancing the overall travel experience.
The aircraft’s arrival follows an agreement signed between PIA and Norse Atlantic Airways in October to acquire two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners under an Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) arrangement, commonly known as a wet lease.
Under the agreement, Norse Atlantic will provide the aircraft along with crew, maintenance and insurance services. The arrangement will allow PIA to increase its long-haul flight capacity without independently managing all operational requirements.
The agreement is intended to meet growing demand for travel between Pakistan and the United Kingdom and strengthen the airline’s international network.
According to PIA’s earlier announcement, the leased Dreamliners will support flights connecting London Heathrow and Manchester with Islamabad and Lahore.
PIA CEO Amir Hayat had said the partnership would help the airline increase capacity on UK routes while offering passengers more travel options and better connectivity.
Norse Atlantic CEO Eivind Roald also described the agreement as part of the company’s strategy to deploy its aircraft through ACMI partnerships with other airlines.
The Boeing 787-9 is a long-haul, twin-engine wide-body aircraft designed to improve fuel efficiency and passenger comfort. The aircraft joining PIA’s operations has a seating capacity of 358 passengers, according to media reports.
Earlier, Finance Ministry adviser Khurram Shahzad clarified that no government loan or sovereign guarantee had been announced to finance new aircraft for the privatised national carrier. He said the government was neither purchasing aircraft for PIA nor providing an announced taxpayer-funded loan or sovereign guarantee for the purpose.
The Dreamliner’s arrival also comes as PIA prepares to introduce newly designed cabin crew uniforms by fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, popularly known as HSY. The new uniforms are scheduled to make their operational debut on the inaugural London-to-Islamabad flight of the newly acquired Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The aircraft’s induction marks another development in PIA’s efforts to modernise its fleet, strengthen international connectivity and improve its long-haul operations.
