(Photo Airbus)
AIR NIUGINI has signed a firm order for six Airbus A220-100s. Under its fleet modernisation programme, the national carrier of Papua New Guinea will also acquire three A220-300s and another two A220-100s from third party lessors. The latest generation single-aisle aircraft will be operated by Air Niugini across its domestic and regional network, offering more capacity and greater reliability across the domestic network and enabling the carrier to fly from the capital Port Moresby to new destinations across the Asia-Pacific region. The A220s will replace Air Niugini’s fleet of six Fokker 70s and seven Fokker 100s. Air Niugini had been weighing up Embraer’s E195-E2 before it struck the deal with Airbus.
Gary Seddon, acting chief executive officer of Air Niugini, said the order was a “milestone in the history of our national airline that will support the growth of trade and tourism in Papua New Guinea. The new aircraft will offer the highest levels of comfort for our passengers, while also ensuring a significant reduction in fuel consumption and emissions when compared to the aircraft they will replace.”