Airlines PNG to buy six new aircraft

 By GYNNIE KERO

AIRLINES PNG (APNG) will purchase six aircraft from a French- Italian manufacturer in coming years to expand and improve services and its competitiveness.

This followed an agreement APNG conditionally entered with Avions de Transport Regional GIE (ATR) earlier this month to acquire the ATR 72-600 aircraft.

Chief commercial officer Paul Abbot had told The National then that APNG was working through a plan to bring in the first new ATR aircraft next year.

The company shareholders gave approval for the ATR contract at a special resolution last Thursday with the first new aircraft expected to be delivered next September.

The special meeting and board have further approved entry by the company into agreements under which the first 3 ATR 72-600 aircraft to be purchased under the ATR contract will be acquired by a highly reputable international aviation leasing company and leased by Airlines PNG from that company on operating lease terms, over lease periods of 12 years from delivery of each aircraft.

APNG said this investment in new aircraft was part of an ambitious fleet modernisation strategy.

“With the new robust ATR turboprops in its fleet, Airlines PNG will benefit from the aircraft’s excellent short and soft field performance operating from a range of runways. 

“The aircraft is optimised for hot and high operations typical in PNG while providing excellent passenger comfort, more seat capacity and flexible freight solutions,” according to the company.