ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — Pakistan International Airlines received its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on Sunday, the first of the type to join the fleet of any Pakistani airline, as the privatised flag carrier starts rebuilding its long-haul network.
The leased aircraft flew in from London as flight PK786 and was received at Islamabad International Airport by PIA chief executive Aamir Hayat and his team, a PIA spokesperson said. The spokesperson said its modern cabin and in-flight entertainment system would give passengers a more comfortable journey in line with international standards.
It is the first of two 787-9s PIA is taking from Norse Atlantic under an ACMI agreement announced last month, in which the Norwegian long-haul airline provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance. The Dreamliners are meant to add capacity between the UK and Pakistan from the start of November, linking several British cities with Pakistan.
“This is the first set of Dreamliners that is being adopted by the Pakistani market, and we hope they will provide a dream journey to our valued guests,” Hayat said when the deal was announced, calling the UK an important market for the airline.
PIA has been overhauling its fleet, routes and services since private management took control after its sale in December 2025. It flies 31 aircraft, a mix of Boeing 777s and Airbus A320s. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has sought US export credit financing for PIA to buy its own 787s, and Pakistan and the UK have discussed Airbus and Rolls-Royce arrangements and leasing options to meet the airline’s immediate needs.
