PIA Boeing 787 Cleared for First Pakistan Flight
Pakistan International Airlines has received clearance to operate the Boeing 787 in Pakistan for the first time, after a Civil Aviation Authority delegation inspected the aircraft at Oslo Airport. The PIA Boeing 787 clearance opens the way for the airline’s first Dreamliner flight, PK-786, from London to Islamabad on October 31.
A delegation led by Civil Aviation Authority Director General Nader Shafi Dar inspected the aircraft at Oslo Airport and granted permission for its operation, ARY News reported. The clearance marks a milestone for the national airline, which has not operated the Dreamliner type before.
Inspection schedule for the remaining aircraft
The inspection of the second aircraft will be conducted at Oslo Airport on Monday, while the third aircraft is scheduled for inspection at London Airport on November 20. Sources said the remaining aircraft would be sent to London after their inspections are completed.
The addition of the Boeing 787 aircraft is expected to strengthen PIA’s international network and help the airline offer better services to passengers. The aircraft has a seating capacity of 358 passengers, according to ARY News.
PIA will operate its first Boeing 787 flight on October 31. Flight PK-786 will depart from London for Islamabad and is expected to land in Islamabad with passengers on November 1. The airline will also introduce a new uniform for its staff on the same day, alongside the launch of operations with the new aircraft.
The Norse Atlantic deal behind the PIA Boeing 787
Earlier this month, PIA signed a deal with Norwegian aviation group Norse Atlantic for two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to expand its long-haul capacity between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The agreement, reported on October 9, uses an ACMI arrangement, under which Norse supplies the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance while PIA sells the tickets and operates the flights under its own name.
That deal is the backdrop to the clearance programme now under way. The United Kingdom is PIA’s most important long-haul market, and the Dreamliners will add much-needed capacity on Pakistan-UK routes. Feature Pakistan covered the agreement when it was signed, in Norse Atlantic’s lease deal with PIA.
The October 31 launch also ties in with a visible change for the airline. PIA’s new cabin crew uniforms, designed by HSY, are set to debut the same day, as covered in HSY’s new PIA cabin crew uniforms for October 31. The airline is also working to upgrade the cabins of its Boeing 777 fleet to improve the passenger experience on long-haul routes.
For passengers, the practical change is straightforward: a modern wide-body aircraft with 358 seats on the London-Islamabad route, starting with PK-786. For PIA, the clearance ends a long wait to bring the Dreamliner into service and gives it fresh capacity at a time when its international network is being rebuilt.
What happens next
The second aircraft faces inspection at Oslo Airport on Monday, October 26. The first commercial flight, PK-786, departs London on October 31 and lands in Islamabad on November 1. The third aircraft is due for inspection at London Airport on November 20, after which the airline’s Dreamliner operation should be in full swing.
When is PIA’s first Boeing 787 flight?
PIA’s first Boeing 787 flight, PK-786, departs London on October 31 and is expected to land in Islamabad with passengers on November 1.
Which route will the Dreamliner fly?
The first flight runs from London to Islamabad, as part of PIA’s Pakistan-United Kingdom long-haul network.
How many passengers does the aircraft seat?
The Boeing 787 has a seating capacity of 358 passengers, according to ARY News.
What is the Norse Atlantic deal?
PIA signed a deal earlier in October with Norwegian group Norse Atlantic for two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners under an ACMI arrangement, in which Norse supplies the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance while PIA operates the flights under its own name.
