PAKISTAN; UNITED KINGDOM —Norse Atlantic ASA has signed an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) agreement with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) covering two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Operations under the arrangement are expected to start in early November 2026, adding long-haul capacity to PIA’s services between the United Kingdom and Pakistan.
Under the agreement, Norse Atlantic will supply the aircraft and provide the crew, maintenance and insurance required for their operation. The arrangement will allow PIA to increase capacity on routes connecting the two countries as demand for direct travel continues to support additional seat availability. It is also expected to give passengers, including the Pakistani community in the UK, more options for travel between the two markets.
The deal provides Norse Atlantic with an opportunity to redeploy capacity previously used in another ACMI operation. Rather than relying exclusively on its own scheduled passenger services, the airline can deploy aircraft through agreements with other carriers and charter customers. This model can broaden the potential uses of its fleet and diversify the sources of aircraft utilisation and revenue.
For PIA, the additional widebody aircraft capacity supports international network expansion without requiring the airline to supply all the aircraft and associated operational resources itself under this arrangement. ACMI agreements can help airlines address capacity requirements within a defined period, although their commercial benefits depend on utilisation, operating costs and the terms agreed between the parties.
The agreement also reflects the role of outsourced aircraft capacity in the international aviation market, where carriers may use third-party operators to respond to route demand and fleet constraints. The UK–Pakistan corridor is the immediate focus of this arrangement, with implications for airline capacity planning and passenger connectivity across both markets.
Norse Atlantic said it is in discussions with other international airlines about potential additional ACMI agreements. Any further arrangements could provide additional deployment opportunities for its fleet, although no further agreements or specific terms have been confirmed.
Norse Atlantic ASA is a Norwegian airline operating Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft through scheduled services, charter operations and ACMI arrangements. Pakistan International Airlines is Pakistan’s national airline and operates international routes, including services linking Pakistan with the UK.
