The national air carrier of Papua New Guinea, Air Niugini, announced yesterday, August 15th, that it would acquire a fleet of Airbus A220 aircraft in the coming years. The announcement came after the National Executive Council permitted the carrier to proceed with the deal. While the final purchase order has yet to be signed, the airline and the manufacturer have shared enthusiasm concerning the aircraft acquisition as they anticipate that this is the start of a long and prosperous partnership.

Acquiring new regional jets

The A220s will operate short to medium-haul domestic and international routes. Air Niugini plans to use the airplane to replace its aging fleet of six Fokker 70s and seven Fokker 100s. The A220 is more efficient and has a greater operating range than its Fokker counterparts. For these reasons, the airline has opted to replace its fleet of regional jets as it anticipates its operations and profits will be enhanced by the next-generation airliner.

Photo: Air Niugini

Executives at Air Niugini have been thoroughly impressed by the aircraft's performance, especially given that it may operate out of smaller airports in less hospitable terrain, a common trait of flying in Papua New Guinea. The CEO of Air Niguini, Gary Seddon, shared that the order represents not only a fleet change but an operational one as it pushes towards a bright future. Seddon stated,

"It's a momentous day in Air Niguini's history. This is the first time for ANG to purchase brand new regional jets. We are moving from analogue to digital. The Fokker jet aircraft have done their part for the last 25 years and it's time to replace them with a game changer aircraft."

Photo: Air Niugini

The Minister for State Enterprises, Hon William Duma, explained that the A220's optimal efficiency would benefit the airline's operations when he stated,

"The Airbus A220 can operate both domestic and international routes with more capacity. It burns 27 percent less fuel than the current fleet for the same sectors and has greater comfort and operating efficiency."

Replacing the existing fleet

While airline executives are excited about the aircraft order, representatives for Airbus have stated that it anticipates the first of 11 A220 airliners will not be delivered to Air Niugini until 2025, with the remaining aircraft being delivered throughout the remainder of the decade. However, these are not the only new airplanes the airline is awaiting, as it has also ordered two Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The 787s will operate the airline's longest international routes and replace its aging fleet of two Boeing 767s.

Photo: Ryan Fletcher | Shutterstock

If the airline does not order more aircraft and follows through with its airplane replacement plans, it will shrink its fleet of 26 down to only 24. However, much of the airline's fleet is anticipated to remain unchanged as it also operates one Boeing 737 while wet leasing nine De Havilland Dash 8 turboprops and owning one. For now, the airline intends to continue using these aircraft, but it is only a matter of time before they are replaced by newer, more efficient airplanes.

What do you think of Air Niugini's order of 11 Airbus A220s? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: ch-aviation.com