ISLAMABAD – Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has entered into a lease agreement with Norway-based Norse Atlantic Airways for two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft as the national carrier moves to expand its international operations.
The aircraft are expected to join PIA’s fleet in November and will be deployed on long-haul routes connecting Pakistan with the United Kingdom, boosting seat capacity and providing passengers with additional travel options.
The agreement also gives Norse Atlantic an opportunity to deploy aircraft through its aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) leasing business. The Norwegian airline has been shifting its focus towards such arrangements amid rising aviation fuel costs and changes in its transatlantic operations.
PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat said the United Kingdom remained a significant market for the national carrier, adding that the agreement would help it meet demand for travel between the two countries.
He said the partnership would strengthen PIA’s international network and increase capacity on key routes.
Hayat also expressed optimism about introducing Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to PIA’s operations, saying the aircraft would enable the airline to offer passengers an improved travel experience.
Norse Atlantic Chief Executive Officer Eivind Roald said the airline had been pursuing new ACMI opportunities to redeploy aircraft capacity and was now putting that strategy into practice.
He said the arrangement would support PIA’s long-haul expansion and improve air links between Pakistan and the UK, particularly for the large Pakistani community living in Britain.
Roald described the agreement as a potential starting point for a broader strategic partnership between the two airlines.
The development follows discussions within the Pakistani government about possible aircraft leasing arrangements and fleet modernisation initiatives involving Airbus and Rolls-Royce.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and British High Commissioner Jane Marriott discussed the proposals during a meeting in Islamabad. The talks covered potential leasing options for Airbus aircraft and Rolls-Royce engines to address PIA’s immediate operational needs and support its longer-term fleet renewal plans.
