PIA’s First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Arrives in Islamabad From London

Islamabad, November 1, 2026 — Pakistan International Airlines’ first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner landed at Islamabad International Airport on Sunday morning, arriving from London as flight PK-786 and becoming the first Dreamliner ever to join the fleet of a Pakistani airline. The aircraft, leased from Norwegian carrier Norse Atlantic Airways, touched down at 5:42am — three minutes ahead of its scheduled 5:45am arrival — and was welcomed at the airport by PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Vice Marshal Aamir Hayat and his team.

For passengers, this is the most visible sign yet of PIA’s fleet renewal. The Dreamliner is a long-range, twin-engine jet built for exactly the kind of route it just flew — London to Islamabad — and PIA says it will be used on direct long-haul services between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, with a second leased 787-9 still to arrive under the same deal.

Key facts: PIA’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

What happened on Sunday morning

PIA announced the arrival itself on X, writing that Pakistan’s and PIA’s first Boeing 787-9 had touched down in Islamabad, calling it a significant milestone in the airline’s journey towards transformation and a step towards newer aircraft and greater flying comfort. The airline’s spokesperson confirmed in a statement that the Dreamliner arrived from London operating as flight PK-786, and that PIA is the first Pakistani carrier to add a Boeing 787-9 to its fleet.

The Aircraft Owners and Operators Association of Pakistan also welcomed the induction, describing it as an important milestone for PIA and a significant step towards the airline’s revival. That reaction matters because PIA’s fleet story has been one of ageing aircraft and limited long-haul options for years — a brand-new type, even a leased one, changes what the airline can offer on its most important international routes.

The lease deal: what ACMI actually means

PIA signed the agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways in October 2026. It is an ACMI deal — aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance — commonly called a wet lease. In plain terms, Norse Atlantic provides the aircraft along with its crew, maintenance and insurance cover, while PIA operates it under its own brand and flight numbers.

Wet leases are a fast way to add capacity without waiting years for new aircraft deliveries or spending the capital a purchase demands. For PIA, which is rebuilding after privatisation, leasing two Dreamliners lets it put a modern long-haul jet on UK routes now, while its longer-term fleet plans take shape. The second 787-9 under the same agreement is still to arrive.

Why the Dreamliner matters for UK passengers

The Boeing 787-9 is designed for long international routes, with a spacious cabin, modern in-flight entertainment and the quieter, more comfortable ride that has made the Dreamliner popular with long-haul travellers. Reports put this particular aircraft’s seating at 358 passengers.

The UK is PIA’s most important long-haul market. The airline resumed direct flights to London in March after a gap of six years, initially operating three weekly flights from Islamabad and one from Lahore. The Dreamliner strengthens exactly that corridor: PIA says the new jets will support operations between different points in the UK and Pakistan, giving passengers on the London route a far more modern aircraft than the ageing wide-bodies that have served it in recent years.

There is also a practical point for travellers booking ahead. A leased aircraft under an ACMI deal can enter service quickly, so passengers should watch PIA’s schedule announcements for when the Dreamliner starts appearing on specific UK departures from Islamabad and Lahore, rather than assuming every London flight switches overnight.

What comes next for PIA’s fleet

Two things to watch. First, the arrival of the second Norse Atlantic Dreamliner, which will complete the pair agreed in October. Second, how PIA deploys the type across its UK network — whether it concentrates on London or spreads to other UK cities as the airline has indicated.

For now, the headline is simple and worth stating plainly: on the morning of November 1, 2026, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in PIA service landed in Pakistan for the first time. For an airline whose revival has been promised many times, a real aircraft on a real runway is the kind of milestone passengers can actually see.

If you are planning a Pakistan-UK trip, check PIA’s booking pages for Dreamliner-operated departures — and if you flew PK-786’s arrival day, you were part of a small piece of Pakistani aviation history. For more on PIA’s recent changes, see our report on PIA’s new cabin crew uniforms, the wider privatisation push under Finance Minister Aurangzeb, and the Iqbal Day holiday on November 9 if you are planning travel around the long weekend.

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