Air Niugini Secures Future with Order for 6 Airbus A220s Leasing 5 More

In a significant move to revitalize its regional jet fleet, Papua New Guinea’s Air Niugini (PX) has officially committed to the Airbus A220 as the linchpin of its strategic renewal plan. The airline, headquartered in Port Moresby, recently inked a firm order with Airbus for six A220-100s, with an additional commitment to lease three A220-300s and two more A220-100s from third-party lessors.

Air Niugini’s A/CEO, Gary Seddon, hailed the deal as “a milestone in the history of the national airline” during the signing ceremony in Port Moresby on November 1, 2023. The purchased A220-100s are set to commence deliveries in the second quarter of 2025, with the delivery schedule spanning over three years. This move comes after a thorough evaluation process that saw the airline choose Airbus over the E195-E2 from Embraer.

The A220 fleet will retire Air Niugini’s aging F70s and F100s, with each aircraft type boasting an average age of 27.6 and 30.9 years, respectively. Currently, half of the F70s and three F100s are grounded for maintenance, highlighting the impact of a decade-long lack of investment in MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facilities at the state-owned airline. Seddon emphasized the need for fleet modernization to address reliability issues across the network.

The signing ceremony witnessed the presence of key figures, including Papua New Guinea’s Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, William Duma, Prime Minister James Marape, and Airbus Asia Pacific President Anand Stanley. While details of the leased A220s were not disclosed during the ceremony, further information is awaited from Air Niugini.

This A220 order marks a significant step forward in Air Niugini’s comprehensive fleet renewal plan, which includes the upcoming arrival of two B787-8s in the first half of 2026. These Dreamliners are set to replace the carrier’s aging B767-300ERs. The airline is also streamlining its turboprop fleet to consist of ACV!DH8300s and DHC-8-Q400s, aiming to rationalize its diverse fleet into three or four types.

Minister Duma revealed that 80% of the upcoming aircraft acquisitions would be financed by external export credit agencies, with the remaining 20% covered by PNG government funds. This financial structure underscores Air Niugini’s commitment to modernize its fleet with a strategic blend of external and domestic financial support.