Air Niugini embraces safety

Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer Gary Seddon is optimistic the airline's refleet program will lift its service to new heights come 2025.

Mr Sedon says the new fleet is critical for the national carrier and will not just benefit Papua New Guinea but the Pacific and Asia region as well.

Sedon says the new fleet of planes will boost passenger capacity, embrace aviation safety, improve freight capability, and will be sustainable, further describing it as a game changer for the airline company.

He added that enhancing Air Niugini's infrastructure will improve efficiency in the domestic network and also provide a reliable airline service for the people of Papua New Guinea.

Mr Seddon is confident the new fleets will arrive before September 2025.

"By enhancing infrastructure, airlines would be in a much better position to increase block hours and optimize aircraft utilization. This would drastically improve the efficiency of our domestic network, reduce disruption, and provide a more consistent and reliable service to our customers, all while maintaining the highest safety standards.

"These investments would have a far-reaching impact on the aviation industry in Papua New Guinea, enabling us to connect more people more frequently and with greater reliability.

"Fleet renewal goes beyond economics. It's a matter of national importance. Air New Guinea plays a critical role in protecting Papua New Guinea's sovereign airspace", Mr Seddon said.