PNG eagerly awaiting its first A220-300 series airbus

The country's national flag carrier Air Niugini, is eagerly awaiting the arrival of its first Airbus, the A220-300 series, scheduled for Monday the 15th of September.

Dubbed the People's Balus, this plane will be flown by Captain Beverley Paki, who is Papua New Guinea’s first Airbus A220 Captain, and Captain Timothy Narara, an equally distinguished Papua New Guinean aviator, with decades of flying experience and a proud record of service in both domestic and international operations.

Air Niugini's Officer In Charge, and Acting Chief Operating Officer, Captain Samiu Taufa in a statement says, their leadership in the cockpit together, symbolizes Papua New Guinea’s capability and growing aviation expertise.

Captain Taufa also says that the A220 Airbus will depart Montreal, Canada, on Friday morning and transit through Vancouver, Honolulu, and Fiji before its highly anticipated arrival in Port Moresby at 10:00am on Monday.

He says that the plane will be welcomed with a traditional water salute, and a grand official welcome ceremony at the APEC Terminal, by Prime Minister James Marape, along with senior government leaders, dignitaries, Air Niugini’s Board, management, and staff.

Captain Taufa also says that the arrival of this plane is more than just the arrival of a new aircraft, because it marks the dawn of a new era for Air Niugini and Papua New Guinea, and it represents their commitment to safety, reliability, and service excellence.

The Airbus A220 is a world-class aircraft built for efficiency, comfort, and performance, and its advanced design delivers superior fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and greater range, making it ideally suited to PNG’s unique geography and challenging terrain.

Pix from Air Niugini Corporate Communications Department.