First aircraft in Air Niugini’s new fleet arrives

The National Business

AIR Niugini Boeing 737-800 next generation series aircraft will service the airline’s domestic and international operations, says acting chief executive officer Gary Seddon.
“We are exceptionally proud to welcome this latest addition to the Air Niugini family and adorned in a special retro livery as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations,” he said yesterday after the plane landed at Jackson Airport in Port Moresby.
Seddon said the airline was pleased with its new Bird of Paradise.
“It has economy and business class seating,” he said of the nine-year-old aircraft.
“There are numerous members of the project team and I would like to thank everyone involved in this project; our Air Niugini team led by Tiana Ila, our pilots Captain Danny Vavar, Captain Barry Casupang and First Officer Waita Kama, and the support of Civil Aviation Safety Authority PNG under director Benedict Oraka,” Seddon said.
The CEO had said earlier that Air Niugini was expecting to receive four Dash8-Q400 turboprop and two Boeing 737-800 aircraft in September.
“Air Niugini operates aircraft to one of the highest standards of aviation and airworthiness in the world.
“This is a very good safety benchmark to have.
“This means that we will not cut corners on our interim aircraft acquisition programme.
“And when we discovered that the Q400s that had been previously selected were not to standard, we cancelled the arrangements and went back to market.
“I will not risk our operations with aircraft that cannot be relied upon to improve our position,” Seddon said in a statement.
Air Niugini is currently negotiating with aircraft vendors in North America and in the meantime has accelerated heavy maintenance programmes on its existing fleet.
Air Niugini said previously that due to its aging fleet, the airline struggled to operate more than 55 per cent of its aircraft (13 planes) on any given day.
This is because there has been little investment in maintenance repair and overhaul of the fleet over the past decade, it said.

12 comments

  • I am happy png will get this new and bigger aircraft taking png to the next level in operating air niugini. Safety is vital and cutting down on fuel and Maint costs. A salute to the CEO that has an innovative mindset.

    • Air Niugini has always been the best in both it’s domestic & international services, so, congratulations on the addition of a new aircraft. Hopefully there will be more additions into the future. Keep up the good work!

  • 50 YEARS ANNIVERSARY AIR NIUGINI
    CONGRATULATIONS, to The National Airline service provider Air Niugini for the tremendous effort in purchasing the new planes to service the people of Papua New Guinea.
    Your safety is 100% effective compared to none in the country and abroad, well done air niugini for your record safety performance for last 50th years.
    However, due to the increased in population and the demand in travel as the country economy boon in business activities and such there were many flights ✈️ cancelation and delays which was very bad. We have positive feelings that this trend will stop and effective as of the arrival of new airliners.
    Also the prices of tickets are very expensive in domestic flights because of your monopoly.
    We want prices of tickets must be reduced given the inclusion of new fleets.
    Thanks

  • Congratulations PX for a glamorous achievement. I am very proud of your services. As a PNG citizen and whilst growing up as a kid, and now in my late 40’s, this Airlines has been part of my life, and I thank them so much for their services. Congrats once again. Regards from Buka, Bougainville Island.

  • Hope there will be reduction in the fare and the flight cancellations causing much inconveniences making PNG incompetent as stated by international travellers and even domestic. However, congratulations to this great step taken. It’s not that easy.

  • Can we not just buy a new plane out from a manufacturer? The national airline is as old as this country’s independence. It’s made millions of Kina should have enough by now to get a plane.

  • I àm very happy that it just show us that png is moving on within rhe changing world today. Congratulations to the team airniugini

  • I totally agree with Walter’s comments on the 10th of November.
    We should be able to purchase stright out of the assembly lines by now!
    Nevertheless, Congratulations to our National Flag Carrier.

  • I am delighted to see the original colors of the Bird of Paradise which remings me of the old Airbus.

Comments are closed.