PIA wet-leases two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for UK-Pakistan flights

Dhaka: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has signed an ACMI (wet lease) agreement with Norse Atlantic to bring in two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners as part of the airline's efforts to boost its long-haul capacity between the UK and Pakistan.

Flight operations are expected to begin in early November 2026, connecting multiple destinations in the UK and Pakistan, according to a release from the Norwegian low-cost, long-haul carrier.

PIA CEO Amir Hayat said the UK is an important market for the airline, and the agreement will allow it to expand much-needed capacity and offer passengers greater choice and connectivity on these routes.

"This is the first set of (Boeing 787) Dreamliners that is being adopted by the Pakistani market, and we hope they will provide a dream journey to our valued guests who expect premium services from their national carrier," he said.

Norse Atlantic CEO Eivind Roald said the deal will give the large Pakistani community in the UK more travel options. He described it as the start of a strategic partnership between the two airlines.

After its privatization in December 2025, PIA, the Pakistani national airline, has undertaken a comprehensive corporate transformation, focusing on fleet modernization, digital innovation, and route expansion.

The airline currently serves a network that stretches from China to North America, with its fleet of 31 aircraft comprising Boeing 777 wide-body and Airbus A320 narrow-body aircraft.