Norse Atlantic places two Boeing 787-9s with PIA under wet-lease contract
Norse Atlantic Airways has reached an ACMI lease agreement with Pakistan International Airlines for two Boeing 787-9 aircraft, scheduled to enter service in November 2026 as part of an operational model pivot.
Under the agreed ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) framework, Norse Atlantic Airways will provide two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners along with operating flight crews, technical maintenance, and insurance cover to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for a fixed rate. Flight operations for the Pakistani flag carrier are scheduled to begin in November 2026.
This operational deployment follows IndiGo's decision in July to end its previous wet-lease agreement with the Norwegian carrier. Faced with escalating jet fuel expenses, Norse Atlantic is progressively curtailing its exposure to scheduled transatlantic low-cost services, shifting capacity toward third-party ACMI solutions.
According to the airline's management, long-term ACMI partnerships insulate operations from passenger demand variations and jet fuel volatility. Norse Atlantic, which currently operates a fleet of 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, confirmed ongoing talks with other carriers for additional wet-lease commitments. In parallel, the company initiated a formal evaluation process in July regarding a possible corporate sale or merger.
Why it matters for your training
For airline crews, ACMI operations shift duty schedules from scheduled line flying to external carrier networks, altering route planning and operational environments.
Sources
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