Air Niugini Expects First A220 in Early September 2025

Air Niugini is expecting its first A220-100 in the first week of September, according to CEO Gary Seddon. It is the first of thirteen new aircraft the airline expects over the next few years in a USD650 million fleet replacement program.

“The A220 is 30% more fuel efficient than out Fokker fleet,” he told Port Moresby’s NBC Talkback program late last week. “They also carry more people, which means we can spread the aircraft operating costs over more seats and pass those savings onto the customers.”

Air Niugini has eight A220-100s on order. It is also leasing three slightly larger A220-300s from Azzora, a Florida-based aircraft lessor. The second and third A220-100s are expected to arrive in late 2025.

The airline employs 162 pilots, including ten female pilots. Two pilots have already passed the A220 certification program. Six more pilots are heading to Montreal over the next few weeks to start their training. In September, some more pilots will be sent off for training as additional aircraft deliveries near.

Seddon also said the operating environment in 2025 was better than in 2024. Among other things, he said fuel availability outside Port Moresby had improved. Last year, fuel availability outside the capital was a major challenge.

“Now, we have fuel (supplies) in Lae (LAE), Rabaul (RAB), Hagen (HGU), and we’re getting fuel in Vanamo (VAI) and Wewak (WWK) soon,” Seddon said. “This will greatly change the way we structure a mission between Port Moresby and those other cities.”

In addition to the eleven A220s, Air Niugini will also take delivery of two B787-8s in 2027.

Photo: Airbus