New Dash 8 to boost APNG operations

 THE newly-acquired Dash-8 craft will provide Airlines PNG (APNG) with added capacity to support the network expansion, chief executive Muralee Siva says.

He said this after APNG welcomed the twelfth Dash 8 aircraft from Australia last month. 

The aircraft has now undergone an engineering induction programme to standardise it to the rest of the Airlines PNG fleet of Dash 8 aircraft and is now operating, currently serving the Port Moresby to Lae route. 

The engineering programme involved realigning the aircraft maintenance to the Airlines PNG in-house maintenance system and ensuring it is set up to handle the unique conditions imposed when flying in Papua New Guinea. 

“The addition of this aircraft and of a further Dash 8 in July brings the Airlines PNG fleet up to 23 aircraft and provides the airline with the additional capacity needed to support the recently announced network expansion into the Madang, Wewak and Lae to Popondetta routes in addition to the expanded schedule serving Daru and Kiunga,” Siva said.

“The aircraft will also be available to service the ongoing demand for charter flights for the resources industry,” he added. 

“The added benefit of the new aircraft coming on line has been the ability to back up and support our domestic schedule and improve our on time performance, which is currently tracking at better than 80% – in line with the performance figures for major airlines operating in Australia and New Zealand.”