**Air Niugini’s Wide Body Prospects Appear Quite Doubtful**
Air Niugini, the state-owned flagship airline of Papua New Guinea, has decided to forgo its plans to purchase two Boeing 787-8s, as reported by ch-aviation. To provide context, the airline had ordered two Dreamliners in 2023, with initial delivery anticipated in 2026, only for the timeline to be revised to late 2027.
The aim was for these aircraft to replace the airline’s two Boeing 767-300ERs, which are the wide-body jets currently in their fleet. The introduction of the 787 would mark a notable advancement in passenger comfort, operational range, and capacity, generating excitement among many.
Yet, the airline has ultimately opted not to proceed with this acquisition, resulting in the cancellation of the order. Consequently, the airline finds itself without any wide-body aircraft on order.
Adding to the situation, both of Air Niugini’s 767s are under lease, with contracts set to terminate at the conclusion of 2026, suggesting the airline could potentially lack wide-body aircraft. Considering the average age of the 767s exceeds 30 years, a lease extension seems plausible, as it’s likely the lessors have no substantial plans for these jets beyond salvaging parts. It will be interesting to observe how this situation unfolds.
In an interesting twist, Air Niugini is in the process of upgrading its narrow-body fleet, as it receives 11 Airbus A220s (comprising eight A220-100s and three A220-300s), which is expected to continue. These are set to replace Fokker 70s and Fokker 100s. Indeed, the airline boasts an intriguing fleet!
**What Prompted Air Niugini to Withdraw from its Dreamliner Commitments?**
Air Niugini has seemingly been wavering regarding its Boeing 787 intentions for a considerable period. In early 2025, the chairman mentioned that they were reassessing the Dreamliner deal due to “changing circumstances.” Months later, the then-CEO remained confident that the planes would still be forthcoming, emphasizing their significance to the airline’s overarching strategy.
However, the airline recently appointed a new CEO (a returning one, having previously led the airline until 2020 before heading SkyTeam). As per company representatives, the immediate focus is on “sustaining and improving operations and profitability,” while in the medium term, they intend to “gear Air Niugini for initial partial privatization at the appropriate moment.”
Aircraft acquisition is notoriously costly, leading me to speculate that the government may have opted against spending on this scale presently, and I suspect that the typical delays associated with Dreamliner deliveries provided them an escape route without incurring penalties.
While I can understand the intention to cultivate a more financially viable airline, it’s important to note that Air Niugini’s wide-body flights play a crucial role in the import and export of numerous goods from Papua New Guinea, suggesting broader economic repercussions from this decision.
**Conclusion**
Regrettably, Air Niugini has abandoned plans to obtain two Boeing 787s. With the anticipated retirement of its two Boeing 767s imminent, the airline faces an uncertain outlook regarding its wide-body operations. Simultaneously, the airline continues to receive Airbus A220s, which at least modernize its narrow-body fleet.
**What are your thoughts on this Air Niugini development?**