Pakistan International Airlines has signed an aircraft-and-crew lease agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways for two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, expanding long-haul capacity between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Operations are expected to begin in early November 2026 and cover multiple destinations in the two countries, according to a Norse Atlantic announcement dated Oct. 9.
The deal is structured as an ACMI agreement, meaning Norse will provide the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance. PIA will use the added capacity to increase direct U.K.–Pakistan service without immediately purchasing or operating the aircraft itself.
PIA targets high-demand U.K. market
PIA chief executive Amir Hayat said the United Kingdom is an important market for the airline and that the agreement will provide more capacity, choice and connectivity for passengers. Norse and PIA described the aircraft as the first Boeing 787 Dreamliners to be introduced into Pakistan’s airline market.
The companies did not announce specific routes, frequencies, financial terms or the duration of the lease. Those details will determine how much the agreement changes PIA’s schedule and operating economics.
Pakistan has a large diaspora in Britain, supporting steady demand for direct travel. The wide-body 787-9 is designed for long-haul service and can add capacity on routes where PIA currently relies on older aircraft.
Why the agreement matters to Norse
For Norse Atlantic, the contract helps redeploy aircraft from an earlier leasing operation as the Norwegian carrier reduces its exposure to volatile low-cost transatlantic flying. Reuters reported that the company has been placing greater emphasis on ACMI contracts, which can produce more predictable fees and reduce exposure to swings in passenger demand and fuel prices.
Norse operates a fleet of 12 Boeing 787-9s. Its chief executive, Eivind Roald, said the PIA deal supports the company’s strategy of balancing scheduled flights with charter and leasing work. Norse also said it is in discussions with other international airlines about additional ACMI agreements.
The agreement arrives as airlines face elevated fuel costs and operational disruption from geopolitical tensions. For PIA, leasing aircraft with crews and support included offers a faster route to additional long-haul capacity, though the economic value will depend on lease terms that have not been disclosed.
Illustrative image: A Boeing 787 Dreamliner at an airport. Photo by Yuval Zukerman via Unsplash. The pictured aircraft is not a PIA or Norse jet.
Sources
- Norse Atlantic ASA company announcement — Oct. 9, 2026
- Reuters: Norse Atlantic lands lease deal with Pakistan’s PIA — Oct. 9, 2026
- Associated Press of Pakistan: PIA partnership announcement — Oct. 9, 2026
