Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which was leased last month, landed in Islamabad from London on Sunday, operating as flight PK786.
In an official statement, a PIA spokesperson said the airline has become the first carrier in Pakistan to introduce a Boeing 787-9 into its fleet.
According to the statement, PIA Chief Executive Aamir Hayat and his team welcomed the aircraft upon its arrival at Islamabad airport.
PIA said the Dreamliner comes equipped with advanced features, including an in-flight entertainment system, along with a spacious cabin designed to provide passengers with greater comfort.
“The inclusion of the Dreamliner is part of a strategy to modernise PIA’s fleet and strengthen its international network,” the spokesperson said.
“PIA’s objective is to provide international-standard travel facilities and a more comfortable air travel experience to passengers through modern aircraft.”
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is a twin-engine aircraft designed for long-haul flights, with seating capacity for up to 325 passengers. Before its arrival, PIA operated a fleet comprising 12 Boeing 777 aircraft, 15 Airbus A320s, and five smaller ATR planes.
Last month, PIA entered into an ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) leasing arrangement with Norse Atlantic Airways to obtain two advanced Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The first of these aircraft touched down in Islamabad on Sunday.
At the time, a PIA spokesperson stated that the arrival of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner would signal the beginning of the airline’s expansion plans.
He added that expanding its fleet would enable the airline to cater to growing passenger demand by introducing direct routes and improving its international connectivity.
According to him, the aircraft would be deployed on direct long-haul services between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, helping strengthen PIA’s operations across various destinations in both countries.
The development follows the government’s clarification in September that it was not purchasing aircraft for the former national carrier. The statement came after reports suggested that a federal minister was arranging and negotiating sovereign-linked financing for PIA’s aircraft acquisition.
PIA was privatised through an auction in December last year. A consortium headed by Arif Habib Corporation Limited secured a 75 per cent stake in the airline with a winning bid of Rs135 billion.
The Arif Habib-led group had pledged to revive the loss-making carrier through operational reforms, fleet growth and better customer service.
