The PIA Norse Atlantic deal will bring two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to Pakistan’s flag carrier, with flights between the UK and Pakistan expected to begin in early November 2026.
What the agreement covers
The arrangement is an ACMI contract, meaning Norse Atlantic supplies the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance, according to a Norse announcement on the Oslo exchange’s NewsWeb platform and reports in Business Recorder and The News. The two jets are meant to add long-haul capacity between Pakistan and several UK destinations. Neither airline has disclosed the specific routes, weekly frequencies, contract length or financial terms.
Norse chief executive Eivind Roald described the deal as the start of a strategic partnership and said it gives the UK’s large Pakistani community more travel options. PIA chief executive Amir Hayat called the UK an important market and said these are the first Dreamliners adopted by the Pakistani market.
Why the PIA Norse Atlantic deal matters
PIA was privatised in December 2025 and says it is modernising its fleet, digital services and route network. Its current fleet of 31 aircraft consists of Boeing 777s and Airbus A320s, so extra wide-body capacity is valuable on a busy corridor.
For Norse, the contract fills capacity that became available after its wet-lease arrangement with India’s IndiGo for two 787s unravelled in July 2026, when IndiGo cited geopolitical challenges on India-Europe long-haul routes, according to trade reports. Norse operates 12 Boeing 787-9 aircraft and says it is in talks with other airlines about further ACMI agreements.
What happens next
Passengers should watch for PIA to publish destinations, schedules and fares ahead of the November start. Separately, Business Recorder reported that Pakistani officials have discussed financing for PIA’s planned Boeing 787 purchases with US EXIM Bank, and on October 8 explored Airbus and Rolls-Royce arrangements with the UK, though no purchase has been confirmed.
