PIA receives first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on lease from Norse

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has received its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which arrived at Islamabad International Airport from London Heathrow on 1 November 2026 operating flight PK786, according to AeroTime. It is the first time a Pakistani airline has introduced the Dreamliner, though the aircraft is leased rather than newly bought.

A wet lease from Norse Atlantic

AeroTime reports that the jet comes from Norwegian carrier Norse Atlantic Airways under an agreement covering two Boeing 787-9s, signed in October. The deal is an ACMI arrangement, commonly called a wet lease. Under it, Norse provides the aircraft and crew and stays responsible for maintenance and insurance, while PIA uses the aircraft on its own passenger services.

Citing Pakistani media reports, AeroTime says the aircraft is about eight years old and flew its first commercial service in May 2018. It has a reported capacity of 358 passengers and an in-flight entertainment system. The report does not give a cabin breakdown.

Capacity for the UK market

The main purpose of the lease is to increase capacity between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. Pakistan International Airlines returned to the London market on 29 March 2026 after a six-year absence, following the lifting of restrictions that had prevented Pakistani carriers from flying to the UK.

AeroTime says PIA has planned additional services linking Islamabad and Lahore with London Heathrow and Manchester, and that the leased 787-9s are intended to operate several of them. Based on published schedule information, the first aircraft is due to replace Boeing 777 equipment on selected London services, with Manchester operations also planned. The second Dreamliner is expected to add further capacity once it joins the operation.

What this means for travellers

Passengers on selected PIA London services may find a Dreamliner in place of a Boeing 777, so it is worth checking the aircraft type when booking.
More seats are expected on routes between Islamabad, Lahore, London and Manchester as the second aircraft arrives.
The aircraft is leased and about eight years old, so it is not a newly delivered jet. Because it is wet-leased, it is operated under an arrangement in which Norse provides the crew; the source does not say how this will appear on tickets or onboard.

Exact routes, start dates and cabin configuration have not been confirmed in the source. A separate AeroTime item, linked from the article, refers to PIA plans to install lie-flat seats in its Boeing 777 cabins, but no details are given here.