PIA and Norse Atlantic sign partnership for two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners
- Under the partnership, Norse provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance to PIA
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national flag carrier of Pakistan, has signed a landmark ACMI agreement with Norse Atlantic ASA, a Norwegian holding company and publicly traded low-cost, long-haul airline group, for two modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, accelerating PIA’s long-haul capacity between the UK and Pakistan.
According to a statement released on Friday, the flight operations are expected to commence from the start of November 2026, bridging multiple destinations between the UK and Pakistan.
Under the partnership, Norse provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance, powering PIA’s route expansion while enabling Norse to redeploy capacity from its previous ACMI operation.
“We are pleased to support PIA’s long-haul capacity expansion and to strengthen connectivity between the UK and Pakistan by providing the large Pakistani community in the UK with more options for travel between the two countries,” said Eivind Roald, CEO of Norse Atlantic.
“We see this as the start of a strategic partnership between the two companies,” he added.
Following its landmark privatisation in December 2025, PIA has embarked on a comprehensive corporate transformation, focused on rapid fleet modernisation, digital innovation, and strategic route expansion. PIA has a fleet of 31 aircraft comprising Boeing 777s and Airbus 320s and serves a vast network from China to North America.
On Thursday, Pakistan and the United Kingdom discussed aviation cooperation, including potential Airbus and Rolls-Royce aircraft and engine arrangements for PIA, with possible UK export credit support and leasing options to address immediate fleet requirements.
Last month, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met with US EXIM Bank Chair John Jovanovich to seek financing opportunities for PIA’s planned aircraft purchases, specifically Boeing 787 Dreamliners. He emphasised PIA’s interest in Boeing aircraft and the need for spare parts to bring grounded Boeing 777s back into service.
“UK is an important market for PIA, and this agreement will allow us to expand the much-needed capacity and provide greater choice and connectivity for passengers travelling on these routes,” said Amir Hayat, CEO of PIA.
“We are pleased to partner with Norse Atlantic as we continue to strengthen our international network and respond to strong demand for direct travel between the two countries. 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 who expect premium services from their national carrier,” he added.
Norse Atlantic Airways operates a modern fleet of 12 fuel-efficient Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, serving a network of destinations across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.