Bougainville Wings launches with Cessna 208B Caravan

By Andrew Curran.

Papua New Guinea’s Autonomous Bougainville Government has launched Bougainville Wings Limited with a single Cessna Grand Caravan 208B.

Ishmael Toroama, president of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, officiated at the launch at Buka Airport (BUA) on Monday, 20 April.

“The aviation industry in Bougainville has long awaited progress and we are looking forward to expanding this significant beginning,” he said.

Bougainville is the largest island in the Solomon Islands archipelago, located east of Papua New Guinea’s main island, New Guinea.

The region has a complex political history, including a decade-long civil war in the 1990s. Seven years ago, Bougainville’s residents voted for independence from Papua New Guinea, but the referendum was non-binding and has not been officially recognised by Port Moresby.

Currently, Bougainville’s capital, Buka, is served by Air Niugini from Port Moresby (POM) and Rabaul (RAB), and by PNG Air from Rabaul and Kieta (KIE).

However, the Autonomous Bougainville Government says Bougainville Wings will play an important role in improving connectivity across the Bougainville region, including to unserved communities such as Nissan, Buin, Torokina, and the atolls.

Improving regional connectivity is a key component of Bougainville’s “Vision 2052” development strategy.

Government describes Bougainville Wings launch as a humble but significant event

Bougainville Wings secured its air operator’s certificate late last year from Papua New Guinea’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority, paving the way for it to commence commercial operations.

The start-up airline took delivery of its Cessna Caravan several months earlier. The 38-year-old aircraft, P2-BWL (msn 208B0082), is configured for freight operations.

A media statement issued by the Bougainville Government described the launch of Bougainville Wings as a “humble yet significant beginning” for the territory’s future “national carrier.”

“Under my leadership and the Department of Commerce, Trade, Industry and Economic Development, we are committed to ensuring Bougainville Wings is well established and managed to generate revenue for the ABG government, as intended,” Toroama said.

Bougainville Wings is 70% owned by the Autonomous Bougainville Government via the Bougainville Public Investment Corporation Limited, with the remaining 30% held by an entity called Outback Aviation.

Aero South Pacific has attempted to contact the owner of an identically named Australian-registered company that operates a De Havilland 82A Tiger Moth to ask whether it is the same entity.

Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com