Air Niugini Chooses Airbus A220 for Regional Jet Replacement Program

Air Niugini has made a decision in favor of the Airbus A220 for its regional jet replacement initiative, according to Papua New Guinea’s Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, William Duma. The choice was approved by the country’s prime minister and National Executive Council.

Minister Duma emphasized that the Airbus A220 will be transformative for Papua New Guinea, delivering enhanced domestic and international services with increased capacity, comfort, and operational efficiency. The new regional jets are scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2025. They will replace Air Niugini’s existing fleet of seven Fokker 100 (F100) aircraft and six Fokker 70 (F70) aircraft as part of a broader fleet renewal program. The airline also plans to acquire two Boeing 787-8 aircraft by March and April 2026, which will replace its current pair of Boeing 767-300ERs.

Previously, Air Niugini’s Acting CEO, Gary Seddon, had mentioned Airbus A220-100 and A220-300 options, along with the Embraer E195-E2, as potential candidates for the regional jet replacement program. While the specific breakdown of A220 variants wasn’t provided, Minister Duma indicated that the order would encompass both A220 and Embraer aircraft.

Funding for the 13 aircraft in total, which includes the Boeing 787s, will be divided with 80% financed by external export credit agencies and the remaining 20% funded by the Papua New Guinea government.