Air Niugini’s new A220-300 aircraft has operated its first international flight to Cairns.
P2-PGB landed in Cairns as flight PX90 at 11:20am on Friday, having previously operated only on Air Niugini’s domestic network within Papua New Guinea. The Cairns-Port Moresby route has previously been operated by a combination of Fokker 70 and 100 aircraft, as well as 737-800s.
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Air Niugini currently has three A220s in its fleet, each equipped with 138 seats in two classes, and the new aircraft will replace Fokkers and 737s on the Cairns route.
Since their introduction in September, they have flown to key PNG ports including Lae, Kavieng, Manus, Gurney, Rabaul and Port Moresby.
“The Airbus A220-300 is a modern, fuel-efficient aircraft that offers greater comfort, reliability and operational efficiency,” said Alan Milne, CEO of Air Niugini.
“The deployment of this aircraft on our international routes strengthens Air Niugini’s ability to connect Papua New Guinea to key regional destinations while providing a world-class travel experience to our passengers.
“Cairns has always been an important gateway for Papua New Guinea, supporting strong business, tourism and family connections between our two regions.
“The launch of the first international A220-300 flight on this route highlights the importance of the PNG-Australia travel corridor and our commitment to strengthening that connectivity.”
Air Niugini was Cairns’ first international airline, beginning services in September 1975, and Cairns Airport chief executive Richard Barker said the A220s will offer Cairns-Port Moresby passengers greater fuel efficiency, lower emissions and a better in-flight experience.
“Air Niugini has a long and historic connection with Cairns as the first international airline to operate here, and we value the strong relationship between Papua New Guinea and Far North Queensland over the past 50 years,” he said.
“The introduction of this modern aircraft will inject nearly 65,000 seats into the Cairns market each year and will further strengthen connectivity between our regions, supporting economic growth and creating new opportunities for trade, education and employment.”
Air Niugini will introduce its A220s to Port Moresby-Sydney from March 29, with the small planes also flying to Honiara in the Solomon Islands. The A220s will replace the 737-800s currently used on the Sydney route, which is also occasionally operated by 767s.
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