Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is pressing American aircraft manufacturer Boeing to accelerate the delivery of at least five of the 16 Boeing 787 Dreamliners it plans to acquire, with the first batch now expected to arrive in the first half of 2027.
The development follows a visit by PIA’s new management and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to Boeing’s headquarters in Washington this week. According to Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, Naqvi and Boeing Global President Brendan Nelson agreed to finalize the “best possible deal at the earliest” for the acquisition of 16 new aircraft.
A PIA stakeholder, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the main issue was the delivery timeline, as the airline wanted the aircraft much sooner than Boeing had initially proposed. While the agreement covers 16 aircraft, PIA is currently seeking the early delivery of five Dreamliners.
Another shareholder confirmed that Boeing had been persuaded to bring forward the delivery schedule. The aircraft maker had originally planned to deliver the first batch in 2028, but is now expected to supply the first five aircraft between January and June 2027.
The early arrival of the aircraft is expected to significantly expand PIA’s international operations. According to the shareholder, the addition of five Boeing 787s would enable the airline to fully restore and expand nearly all of its international routes, including services to Canada.
PIA currently operates flights to more than 25 international destinations, including London, Dubai, Beijing, and Riyadh, using a fleet of Boeing 777s, Airbus A320s, ATR42-500s, and ATR72-500s. The shareholder described the Boeing 787 as one of the manufacturer’s most advanced aircraft, offering significant improvements over the Boeing 777.
Pakistan privatized PIA in December 2025, with a consortium led by Arif Habib Corporation agreeing to acquire a 75% stake in the airline for Rs135 billion ($482 million), valuing the national carrier at Rs180 billion ($643 million).
As part of its turnaround strategy, the new management plans to expand PIA’s fleet from 19 aircraft to 64 over the next eight years. According to two officials, the airline is also in the process of appointing former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam as its new Chief Executive Officer, pending completion of security clearances.
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