Summary
- Air Niugini plans to accumulate a fleet of Airbus A220 aircraft to exchange its aging Fokker jets for brief to medium-haul routes, anticipating enhanced operations and profits.
- The A220’s efficiency and greater operating range have impressed Air Niugini executives.
- The primary of the 11 A220 airliners is anticipated to be delivered in 2025, and if Air Niugini follows through with its alternative plans, its fleet will shrink from 26 to 24 aircraft.
The national air carrier of Papua Latest Guinea, Air Niugini, announced yesterday, August fifteenth, that it will acquire a fleet of Airbus A220 aircraft in the approaching years. The announcement got here after the National Executive Council permitted the carrier to proceed with the deal. While the ultimate purchase order has yet to be signed, the airline and the manufacturer have shared enthusiasm regarding the aircraft acquisition as they anticipate that that is the beginning of a protracted and prosperous partnership.
Acquiring recent regional jets
The A220s will operate short to medium-haul domestic and international routes. Air Niugini plans to make use of the airplane to exchange its aging fleet of six Fokker 70s and 7 Fokker 100s. The A220 is more efficient and has a greater operating range than its Fokker counterparts. For these reasons, the airline has opted to exchange its fleet of regional jets because it anticipates its operations and profits might be enhanced by the next-generation airliner.
Photo: Air Niugini
Executives at Air Niugini have been thoroughly impressed by the aircraft’s performance, especially provided that it might operate out of smaller airports in less hospitable terrain, a typical trait of flying in Papua Latest Guinea. The CEO of Air Niguini, Gary Seddon, shared that the order represents not only a fleet change but an operational one because it pushes towards a vibrant future. Seddon stated,
“It is a momentous day in Air Niguini’s history. That is the primary time for ANG to buy brand recent regional jets. We’re moving from analogue to digital. The Fokker jet aircraft have done their part for the last 25 years and it is time to exchange them with a game changer aircraft.”
Photo: Air Niugini
The Minister for State Enterprises, Hon William Duma, explained that the A220’s optimal efficiency would profit the airline’s operations when he stated,
“The Airbus A220 can operate each domestic and international routes with more capability. It burns 27 percent less fuel than the present fleet for a similar sectors and has greater comfort and operating efficiency.”
Replacing the present fleet
While airline executives are excited concerning the aircraft order, representatives for Airbus have stated that it anticipates the primary of 11 A220 airliners won’t be delivered to Air Niugini until 2025, with the remaining aircraft being delivered throughout the rest of the last decade. Nonetheless, these should not the one recent airplanes the airline is awaiting, because it has also ordered two Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The 787s will operate the airline’s longest international routes and replace its aging fleet of two Boeing 767s.
Photo: Ryan Fletcher | Shutterstock
If the airline doesn’t order more aircraft and follows through with its airplane alternative plans, it should shrink its fleet of 26 right down to only 24. Nonetheless, much of the airline’s fleet is anticipated to stay unchanged because it also operates one Boeing 737 while wet leasing nine De Havilland Dash 8 turboprops and owning one. For now, the airline intends to proceed using these aircraft, but it surely is barely a matter of time before they’re replaced by newer, more efficient airplanes.
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Source: ch-aviation