The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has signed a lease agreement with Norway's Norse Atlantic Airways for two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners aircraft as the airline works to expand its expansion, according to media reports. The agreement helps Norse retain a key ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) contract after India's largest ?airline IndiGo in July said it would end its wet-lease arrangement with the Norwegian group. Norse, faced with soaring jet fuel costs, has been reducing its exposure to low-cost transatlantic services and increasing its focus on ACMI, under which it leases aircraft and crews to other airlines for a ?fee.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat said the UK was an important market for the airline and the agreement would increase capacity and offer passengers more travel options. "We are pleased to partner with Norse Atlantic as we continue to strengthen our international network and respond to strong demand for direct travel between the two countries,” he said. Hayat added that the aircraft will be the first Dreamliners introduced to the Pakistani market, expressing hope that they would provide passengers with the premium services they expected from PIA.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)