PIA's first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arrives in Islamabad

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, acquired on lease last month, arrived in Islamabad from London as flight PK786 on Sunday.</p> <p>A PIA spokesperson, in a statement, said that the carrier is the first Pakistani airline to have added a Boeing 787-9 to its fleet.</p> <p>PIA Chief Executive Aamir Hayat, accompanied by his team, welcomed the Dreamliner at Islamabad airport, according to the statement.</p> <p>The plane is equipped with modern technology, including in-flight entertainment, and features a spacious and comfortable cabin, PIA said.</p> <p>“The inclusion of the Dreamliner is part of a strategy to modernise PIA’s fleet and strengthen its international network,” the spokesperson said.</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-4/5 media--center ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/11/011436532657071.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img width='1600' height='960' src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/11/011436532657071.webp' alt=' Photo shows the inside of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which arrived in Islamabad on Sunday. &mdash; Photo via author ' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>Photo shows the inside of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which arrived in Islamabad on Sunday. — Photo via author</figcaption> </figure> <p>“PIA’s objective is to provide international-standard travel facilities and a more comfortable air travel experience to passengers through modern aircraft.”</p> <p>The <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.boeing.com/commercial/787">Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner</a> is a long-range, twin-engine plane with up to 325 seats. Previously, PIA’s fleet consisted of 12 Boeing 777 jets, 15 Airbus A320 planes and five smaller ATRs.</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-4/5 media--center ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/11/01143755b795754.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img width='1600' height='960' src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/11/01143755b795754.webp' alt=' Photo shows the inside of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which arrived in Islamabad on Sunday. &mdash; Photo via author ' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>Photo shows the inside of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which arrived in Islamabad on Sunday. — Photo via author</figcaption> </figure> <p>Last month, PIA <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2036048">signed</a> an ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) lease agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways to acquire two state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, one of which arrived in Islamabad on Sunday.</p> <p>A PIA spokesperson at the time said the addition of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner would mark the start of the airline’s expansion.</p> <p>By expanding its fleet, the airline aims to meet rising demand with direct flights and broader global connectivity, he added.</p> <p>The aircraft would operate direct long-haul flights from Pakistan to the United Kingdom, he said, adding that they would support PIA operations between different points in the UK and Pakistan.</p> <p>The development also comes as the government in September <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2033062">clarified</a> that it was not buying any aircraft for the former national carrier after reports emerged of a federal minister arranging and negotiating sovereign-linked financing for PIA jets.</p> <p>PIA was privatised in December last year through an auction. A consortium led by Arif Habib Corporation Limited had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1962791"><u>won the auction</u></a> for 75 per cent shares of PIA in December last year, making a winning bid of Rs135 billion. The Arif Habib-led consortium had vowed to transform the loss-making airline through operational restructuring, fleet expansion, and improved customer service.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.