Pakistan International Airlines to lease Norse 787s after termination of IndiGo partnership

Scandinavian operator to fly pair of twinjets on Pakistan-UK routes.
Pakistan International Airlines is preparing to lease a pair of Boeing 787-9s from Scandinavian operator Norse Atlantic, which has been seeking to place the jets after a pact with Indian carrier IndiGo fell apart.

The agreement is aimed at increasing PIA’s capacity on routes to the UK.

Norse Atlantic has disclosed the partnership as it nears the premature end of the IndiGo arrangement.

The IndiGo pact had involved leasing six 787s – half of the Norse fleet – after Norse embarked on a strategic shift away from solely operating its own network.

But IndiGo experienced problems with the business case arising from airspace closures in the region and higher fuel prices.

The 787 operation is scheduled to end on 25 October and IndiGo will return all the outstanding aircraft to Norse.

Norse has previously said that alternative placements for the aircraft were under discussion.

The PIA agreement, it says, enables it to “rapidly redeploy” widebody capacity freed by the IndiGo lease termination.

It expects the PIA operation to commence at the start of November, adding that it will be “bridging multiple destinations” between Pakistan and the UK.

PIA chief Amir Hayat says the 787 deal will allow the carrier to “respond to strong demand” for travel on these routes.

“This is the first set of [787s] that is being adopted by the Pakistani market and we hope they will provide a dream journey to our valued guests who expect premium services from their national carrier,” he adds.

Norse Atlantic states that the partnership aligns with the company’s ‘airline on demand’ strategy, initially adopted about two years ago as the loss-making carrier sought to establish a path to profitability.

Chief executive Eivind Roald says the PIA agreement is “the start of a strategic partnership between the two companies”.

Norse adds that it remains in “active discussions” with other “leading international airlines” over potential similar lease arrangements.

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