Airline boosts fleet with new Fokker 70s

 AIR Niugini is focused on maximising its efficiency with the inclusion of Fokker 70s, which will progressively replace the Dash 8 Q400 on its main routes.

Airline board chairman Sir Frederick Reiher said the largest re-fleeting programme in their 41-year history was being implemented to ensure planes were compatible enough to maximise efficiency and reliability.

He said when fully implemented, the airline would have an all-jet fleet of Fokker 70s and 100s that could be operated by a set of pilots and maintained by a set of engineers, with the same set of spare parts and common service arrangements.

 Turbo prop Dash 8 aircraft would meet the need of Link PNG, Sir Frederick said. 

“The major programme will ensure Air Niugini operates with maximum efficiency in the future and is capable of meeting existing and unknown challenges domestically and regionally. 

“The programme is a huge expense for the airline,” he said. 

He said the airline had embarked on an overall revenue-enhancement programme targeting new opportunities for growth domestically and internationally.

He said this was evident through such inclusions as increasing services from two to three flights weekly to Hong Kong and more connections to China and North Asia.