PX pushes on with fleet upgrading

By HENRY MORABANG
AIR NIUGINI continues its fleet modernisation programme with the recent delivery of a Boeing 737 aircraft in Port Moresby.
The inclusion of P2-PXE now brings to three the units that had gone through the retrofit programme, representing the most modernised fleet and offering a whole new travel experience.
Chief executive Simon Foo said the retrofit programme had cost the national airlines K20 million to upgrade five aircraft on international and domestic routes.
The retrofit programme, which included changes and improvement to the aircraft interior cabin, including seating arrangement, inflight entertainment system and toilets.
Inseat screens have been installed in both the business and economy class seats with movies in early genre, premier classics, family classics, TV documentaries, games, music and other application.
P2-PXE has 144 seats — 128 economy class and 16 business class.
The business class has seats with lumbar support, footrest and allows for more leg room, comfort and privacy for passengers.
The newly-designed cabin allows for larger overhead bins/lockers for passengers to stow their hand luggage.
Foo said it was a new way of experiencing a memorable flight with Air Niugini and the airline was committed to rolling out the retrofit programme across its international Boeing fleet to ensure the same standard was maintained throughout the fleet.
The retrofit of the B767 fleet has been completed while the first B737 of the three aircraft in the B737 fleet has also been completed.
The other two aircraft would be completed by June.
The retrofit lifedt Air Niugini and PNG standards in air travel, according to Foo.
“It ensures a much higher standard and comfort for customers travelling on Air Niugini, Bird of Paradise services and also to prepare our national airline for competition.”