Air Niuginea’s new A220-300 aircraft has operated its first international flight to Cairns.
P2-PGB flight PX90 landed in Cairns at 11:20am on Friday, having previously operated only on Air Niugini’s domestic network in Papua New Guinea. The Cairns-Port Moresby route had previously been operated by a mix of Fokker 70s and 100s and 737-800s.
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Air Niuginea currently has There are three A220s in the fleeteach aircraft has 138 seats, divided into two classes, the new aircraft will replace the Cairns route Fokker and 737 aircraft.
Since their launch in September, they have flown to Papua New Guinea’s major ports including Lae, Kavieng, Manus, Gurney, Rabaul and Port Moresby.
Air New Guinea CEO Alan Milne said: “The Airbus A220-300 is a modern, fuel-efficient aircraft that provides greater comfort, reliability and operational efficiency.”
“Deploying this aircraft on our international routes enhances Air Niugina’s ability to connect Papua New Guinea to key regional destinations while providing our passengers with a world-class travel experience.
“Cairns has always been an important gateway to Papua New Guinea, supporting strong business, tourism and family links between our two regions.
“The launch of the first A220-300 international service on this route highlights the importance of the Papua New Guinea-Australia travel corridor and our commitment to enhanced connectivity.”
Air Niuginea was Cairns’ first international airline, starting operations in September 1975. Cairns Airport chief executive Richard Barker said the A220 will provide Cairns-Port Moresby passengers with greater fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and a better onboard passenger experience.
“Air New Guinea 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 per year into the Cairns market and further enhance connectivity between our regions, supporting economic growth and creating new opportunities for trade, education and employment.”
Air Niuginea will launch its A220 small jets in Port Moresby, Sydney, from March 29. The small jets are also scheduled to fly to Honiara in the Solomon Islands. The A220 aircraft will replace the 737-800 aircraft currently used on the Sydney route, which is also occasionally operated by 767 aircraft.