PIA’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner lands in Islamabad as London flights resume daily
File photo: A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (not PIA's arriving aircraft)
Islamabad: Pakistan International Airlines took a long-awaited step into the wide-body era on Sunday morning, when its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner touched down at Islamabad International Airport.
The aircraft arrived from London Heathrow operating as flight PK-786, and was welcomed on the tarmac by PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat and his team. It is the first Boeing 787 to join the fleet of any Pakistani airline, which is why the carrier is calling the arrival a milestone rather than just another delivery.
Leased, not bought
The Dreamliner has not been purchased outright. It comes from Norwegian carrier Norse Atlantic Airways under an ACMI agreement — aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance — signed in October for two Boeing 787-9s. The first has now arrived; the second is due to follow, and the pair will be put to work mainly on UK routes.
That distinction matters. PIA is going through privatisation, and Finance Ministry adviser Khurram Shahzad has said no government loan or sovereign guarantee has been announced to finance new aircraft. Growth, for now, is coming through leasing rather than buying.
What it means for passengers
The timing is not accidental. The Dreamliner’s arrival coincides with the resumption of daily London Heathrow services from Islamabad and Lahore. PIA restarted London flights in March after a six-year gap, and the new jet gives that route more capacity and a far more modern cabin.
On social media, the airline described the arrival as “a significant milestone in our journey towards transformation”, promising newer aircraft, greater flying comfort and a better experience for passengers. The 787-9 is a long-haul, twin-engine wide-body built around fuel efficiency and passenger comfort; according to Boeing it seats between 250 and 325 passengers and can fly up to 15,370 kilometres, with a modern in-flight entertainment system and a roomier cabin than the older jets it will sit alongside.
For travellers between Pakistan and the UK, the test will be simple: whether the new aircraft, and the daily schedule behind it, actually hold up in the weeks ahead.
