Tomuriesa Says UN Chief Failed to Address Key Issues During PNG Visit

Papua New Guinea has received its first Airbus A220 aircraft under Air Niugini’s fleet replacement program, a move Prime Minister James Marape says reflects renewal and pride as the nation reaches 50 years of independence.

The handover took place on 4 September 2025 at Mirabel, Montreal, the production site of the Airbus A220. Witnesses included Vice Ministers Raphael Tonpi and Alexander Orme, Air Niugini Chairman Karl Yalo, and Kumul Consolidated Holdings Managing Director David Kavanamur.

 First Airbus A220 Handed Over to Air Niugini as PNG Prepares for Golden Jubilee

Marape said the aircraft would arrive in Port Moresby on 15 September, a day before the country’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. He called it a national symbol that reflects the future direction of Air Niugini and the country.

The refleeting initiative, worth K2.6 billion, will replace the airline’s ageing Fokker aircraft and three Boeing 737s with 11 new Airbus A220s. The A220-300 will carry 138 passengers, while the A220-100, with 113 seats, can operate across all of PNG’s airports.

Three A220-300s are scheduled for delivery this year, with the first serving routes to Nadzab, Gurney, Kavieng, Manus, and Jacksons International. Eight smaller A220-100s will follow from 2027 to 2029.

The Prime Minister said government funding in the 2024 and 2025 budgets enabled the program to move forward. He credited the Department of Treasury, Kumul Consolidated Holdings, and Minister William Duma for supporting Air Niugini.

Marape added that training for pilots, engineers, and staff, along with facility upgrades, would accompany the new fleet. He said the aircraft will lower operational costs and expand services, strengthening key industries. “This fleet symbolises the legacy we pass on to the next generation,” Marape said.

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Tomuriesa Says UN Chief Failed to Address Key Issues During PNG Visit