New Air Niugini Aircraft Dash 8 Q400 arrive in Port Moresby

Air Niugini's fourth Dash 8 Q400 aircraft landed at the APEC Terminal in Port Moresby on Saturday.

Air Niugini purchased this new aircraft through the Papua New Guinea Government’s Public Infrastructure Program (PIP), with assistance from Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH), at a cost of approximately US$7 million or over K27 million.

The aircraft arrived from Canada after a four-day journey, making stops in Hawaii and the Marshall Islands.

It departed the Marshall Islands at 5:00 am and touched down in Port Moresby at 10:50 am.

Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer Gary Seddon says the last similar aircraft was purchased 10 years ago, and this new acquisition is crucial for the airline.

“This aircraft will play a crucial role in improving our operating efficiency and schedule reliability on domestic routes. The advanced technology and versatility are ideally suited for our operation needs, ensuring Air Niugini continues to provide safe, efficient, and reliable services to the people of Papua New Guinea.”

“I would like to extend our sincere thanks to the government, particularly our Hon. Minister for State Owned Enterprises William Duma for championing this program as well as chairman and managing director and the team at KCH for their unwavering support in making this possible.” Mr Seddon said

He highlighted that the Q400 model is well-known for its fuel efficiency and its ability to operate in rugged terrains, making it perfect for Papua New Guinea's challenging landscapes.

This aircraft is the first of four more aircraft scheduled to arrive over the coming months, representing a significant investment in PNG’s aviation sector and the start of the new fleet expansion.

"We are expecting more aircraft to arrive in a few months until next year," Seddon added.

The airline is looking at a total 8 to replace the current Dash 8 classics. Q400s are high in demand in this region, they are substantially larger, much faster, more comfortable, with vastly superior and more powerful engines and propellers, and carry up to 76 passengers, about 30 more than Dash8 classics. The Q400s are ideally suitable for operations in the PNG environment.