Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner landed in Islamabad on Sunday, making it the first aircraft of its kind in any Pakistani airline’s fleet.
The plane arrived from London Heathrow as flight PK-786 and was welcomed at Islamabad International Airport by PIA CEO Air Vice Marshal Aamir Hayat and his team. PIA called it “a significant milestone in our journey towards transformation.”
Leased, Not Bought
The Dreamliner is not owned by PIA. It is one of two 787-9s leased from Norway’s Norse Atlantic Airways under an ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) deal, also known as a wet lease.
That means Norse Atlantic supplies the plane and its crew and remains responsible for maintenance and insurance.
According to Boeing, the 787-9 seats 250 to 325 passengers and can fly up to 15,370 km. Until now, PIA’s fleet consisted of 12 Boeing 777s, 15 Airbus A320s, and five ATRs.
What This Means for You
The aircraft is meant to add long-haul capacity on UK routes. PIA resumed direct London flights in March after six years and now runs seven weekly flights to the UK, so overseas Pakistanis flying between the two countries are the first to benefit from a newer, more comfortable cabin with modern in-flight entertainment.
The induction follows PIA getting clearance to operate the Boeing 787 in Pakistan.
It is also the first visible fleet upgrade since the Arif Habib Consortium took over PIA’s management in June, with fleet renewal and new routes among its top priorities.
The Aircraft Owners and Operators Association (AOOA) Pakistan welcomed the arrival but said new planes alone won’t revive the airline without punctual flights, better booking systems, and improved customer service.
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