Air Niugini, with headquarters in Papua New Guinea, has confirmed an order for two Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which will replace its old Boeing 767-300ER planes that are 28 and 32 years old. The Dreamliners are 25% more fuel-efficient compared to the 767s.
The airline is in the midst of a fleet renewal process as it recovers demand and has the capacity to expand. Previously, it was reported that the airline had an order for two Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and now both parties have confirmed the order, which will be delivered in 2026.
The Boeing 767 planes are mainly used on routes to Brisbane (BNE), Hong Kong (HKG), and Koror (ROR) in the Palau Islands. According to the company, the Boeing 787s will allow them to add new destinations, such as New Zealand.
«Signing this contract with Boeing to purchase two modern wide-body Dreamliners 787 will allow Air Niugini to expand its network in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand and fulfill its mission as the premier airline of Papua New Guinea, providing the best air service in the region,» said Gary Seddon, Acting CEO of Air Niugini.
Originally, Air Niugini had placed an order for a single Boeing 787-8 in 2007, but it was canceled in May 2019. Additionally, in 2016, the airline had ordered four Boeing 737-8 planes, but due to internal issues, the deliveries were delayed until 2028.
Current Situation of Air Niugini
Despite this, Air Niugini will receive three Boeing 737-800 and four Bombardier DHC Q-400 aircraft this year to strengthen its destination network. It is also in negotiations to place an order for a dozen regional aircraft, either Embraer E195-E2 or A220-100/-300, to replace its Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 planes.
Air Niugini’s current fleet consists of two Boeing 767s, one Boeing 737-800, one Q-300, three Q-400s, six Fokker 70s, and seven Fokker 100s. Its subsidiary, LINK PNG, which operates domestic flights, has two Q-200s and four Q-300s.
Its route network is composed of 20 domestic destinations, Brisbane, Cairns, and Sydney in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Nadi (Fiji), Palau, and Manila (Philippines).
