Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has received its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at Islamabad International Airport, marking a significant step towards modernising its fleet and expanding international operations.
According to a statement issued by the airline’s spokesperson, PIA has become the first Pakistani airline to include the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in its fleet.
PIA Chief Executive Aamir Hayat, accompanied by senior officials, welcomed the aircraft upon its arrival at Islamabad airport.
The spokesperson said the aircraft features advanced technology, an in-flight entertainment system and a spacious cabin designed to provide passengers with greater comfort.
He added that the addition of the Dreamliner was part of PIA’s broader strategy to upgrade its fleet and strengthen its international route network.
The airline aims to improve passenger services by introducing modern aircraft and providing travel facilities that meet international standards, the spokesperson said.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is a long-range, twin-engine aircraft with a seating capacity of up to 325 passengers. Before its arrival, PIA’s fleet comprised 12 Boeing 777 aircraft, 15 Airbus A320s and five ATR aircraft.
Last month, PIA signed an Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) lease agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways to acquire two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The aircraft’s arrival in Islamabad marks the first delivery under the agreement.
At the time, the airline said the addition of the two aircraft would initiate a new phase of expansion, enabling it to accommodate growing passenger demand and improve international connectivity.
The Dreamliners are expected to operate direct long-haul flights between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, supporting the airline’s services across multiple destinations in both countries.
The development comes after the government clarified in September that it was not purchasing aircraft for the national carrier, following reports regarding proposed sovereign-linked financing arrangements for PIA’s fleet expansion.
PIA was privatised in December last year when a consortium led by Arif Habib Corporation Limited secured a 75 per cent stake in the airline with a winning bid of Rs135 billion.
The consortium had pledged to revive the loss-making airline through operational restructuring, fleet expansion and improvements in passenger services.
