Air Niugini adds two new aircraft to fleet

By EMMANUEL MAIPE

Air Niugini flight services has been further enhanced with the addition of two new aircraft to its fleet to meet customer demand and additional routes. 

The new B737 given the traditional hose down. - Nationalpics by EKAR KEAPU

Last Friday saw the arrival of these two latest additions, the Boeing 737 (B737) 800 Series and the Dash 8 Q400 Series, which arrived to a warm welcome at the Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby.

The new Q400 given the traditional hose down.

Air Niugini board chairman,  Garth McIlwain,  said the latest additions would go towards providing better service to the increasing number of passengers traveling with the airline and servicing the additional domestic and international routes.

McIlwain flanked by Prime Minister Peter O’Neil, ministers Byron Chan and Don Polye,  and NCD Governor Powes Parkop cutting the ribbon to welcome the new aircraft.

 “The numbers of routes have also increased to 25 for the domestic and 10 international destinations,” he said.

 “The passengers we carry has also increased from 789, 904 to an estimated 1.5 million people this year, over a million of these are domestic passengers.”   

 McIlwain was pleased with the current growth and expansion of the airline which he said reflected the commitment of its board and management to meet the ever-increasing demands of a country which was rapidly growing.

 “As Papua New Guinea progresses into a period of even stronger economic growth, the challenges also increase and Air Niugini is positioning itself to meet these challenges,” he said.

 McIlwain said domestic services would be even better with the airport facilities in the country in a good state to allow for more night flights.

 “Appropriate authorities are well aware of these constraints and Air Niugini’s board and management are also aware of these efforts by the authorities to improve performance.”

 The arrival of the two new aircraft has also double the airlines fleet to 25 aircraft currently with two more to come towards the end of the year.

 This year alone, the airline has acquired a total of six aircraft including two B737s, a Q400 and a Dash 8- 200 series.