Air Niugini is gearing up to receive its first Airbus A220-100 around a year from now, as the airline continues its major fleet renewal program.
The first aircraft is scheduled to arrive in time for the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence.
The Port Moresby-based airline ordered six A220-100s direct from Airbus in November 2023. It is also acquiring a further two A220-100s, together with three A220-300s, from lessors.
The aircraft are being used to replace the airline’s fleet of elderly narrowbodies – three Fokker F70s and three of the larger F100 model. Seven Fokkers have already been parked.
Other aspects of the refleeting include the recent arrival of two Boeing 737-800s, giving a total of three, together with another Dash 8-400 joining in August. The airline’s long-haul aircraft, two Boeing 767-300s, are being replaced by a pair of 787-9s.
“The Fokker jet aircraft have done a tremendous job over the decades; safely and reliably meeting our air transport needs,” acting CEO Gary Seddon noted on the arrival of the third 737-800 in May.
“The new Airbus A220s will replace the retiring Fokkers and become the backbone to Air Niugini’s fleet. In the meantime, our Boeing 737s provide excellent reliability, comfort and safety.”
The A220s will be operated by Air Niugini across both its domestic and regional network. The new fleet will deliver more capacity and greater reliability across the domestic network and enable the carrier to fly from Port Moresby to new destinations across the Asia-Pacific region, Airbus noted at the announcement of the order.
Related Content
