PNG's Air Niugini expands domestic jet network with Rabaul A220 service

 PNG’s national airline Air Niugini has confirmed that its new Airbus A220-300 will make its first commercial flight to Rabaul on Friday, bringing increased capacity to the popular Tokua route ahead of Christmas. The service comes as thousands of Papua New Guineans travel home for the festive season.

The airline said the move follows approval from the National Airports Corporation, which cleared the aircraft for operations into Tokua Airport. The decision allows Air Niugini to address passenger backlogs and manage peak seasonal demand.

PNG Air Niugini expands domestic jet network with Rabaul A220 service

The A220-300 will operate to Rabaul four times weekly, offering almost double the number of seats compared to the aircraft currently used on the route. Air Niugini said the additional capacity would help reduce delays and improve travel reliability.

With the new jet assigned to Tokua, Q400 and Fokker aircraft will be shifted to other domestic routes, increasing seating availability across the network. The airline said this would benefit multiple provinces during the busy travel period.

The Airbus A220-300 features a 138-seat configuration, including Business Class seating, and offers a modern cabin with improved comfort, wider seats and quieter operations. The aircraft is designed to provide a smoother flying experience for passengers.

Air Niugini has already deployed the A220 on routes to Lae, Manus Island, Kavieng and Alotau, with plans to expand operations to Mount Hagen and Hoskins once runway upgrades are completed.

Captain Samiu Taufa said the introduction of the aircraft to Rabaul was timely, adding, “This service helps us move more passengers efficiently while delivering a better onboard experience for customers travelling during the Christmas period.”