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Air Niugini receives first Airbus A220-300 as part of fleet renewal

Air Niugini receives first Airbus A220-300 as part of fleet renewal
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Air Niugini | Simple Flying

Air Niugini, the national airline of Papua New Guinea, has become the 25th operator of the Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The arrival of this new aircraft coincides with the country's 50th anniversary of independence from Australia on September 16, 1975. The new A220-300 is expected to land in Port Moresby on Monday, September 15, and will be known as the 'Peoples Balus'.

The addition of the Airbus A220-300 marks a significant change for Air Niugini’s fleet. The aircraft is set to replace older Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 models, offering improvements in fuel efficiency, comfort, and operational range. This move is intended to support aviation connectivity across Papua New Guinea's challenging geography.

"This is more than just the arrival of a new aircraft—it is the dawn of a new era for Air Niugini and Papua New Guinea. The A220 represents our commitment to safety, reliability, and service excellence, while proudly carrying our flag into the future," said Captain Samiu Tagua, Officer in Charge (OIC) and Acting Chief Operating Officer at Air Niugini.

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Air Niugini has ordered three A220-300s and eight A220-100s to replace its four Fokker 70s and five Fokker 100s. The larger capacity of the A220 family will allow for increased passenger numbers on selected routes.

The delivery flight for Air Niugini’s first A220-300 began at Montreal's Mirabel Airport (YMX), departing as PX50 at 17:54 local time. After a stopover in Vancouver International Airport (YVR), where the crew rested overnight, the journey continued to Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). Following refueling in Hawaii, the aircraft flew to Nadi International Airport in Fiji before its scheduled final leg to Port Moresby International (Jacksons) Airport (POM).

Captains Beverley Pakii and Timothy Narara were chosen to operate this delivery flight due to their experience with both domestic and international operations at Air Niugini.

Currently, Air Niugini operates about 20 aircraft including Boeing 737-800s, Boeing 767-300ERs, Fokker jets, and Bombardier Dash-8 turboprops. The airline plans further modernization with additional Airbus A220s and two Boeing 787-8s for key international routes.

From its base in Port Moresby, Air Niugini serves various domestic destinations such as Alotau, Goroka, Mount Hagen, Rabaul, Wewak and others. Its international network includes flights to Brisbane, Cairns, Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore and Sydney.

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