PNG Air will be getting five more brand new ATR 72-600 aircrafts in the near future.
In a statement from the Port Moresby Stock exchange this morning, PNG Air announced that the aircrafts will be bought from the manufacturer, the French company ATR, with the first of the new aircraft to be delivered in 2019.
PNG Air CEO Muralee Siva said the introduction of the brand new ATR 72-600s underpins the airline’s strategy to bring affordable, comfortable and dependable air services to the PNG domestic market.
“PNG deserves the best,” he said.
“This order moves us closer to operating an all ATR fleet and we’re delighted that progressively more and more of our passengers will be flying on the ATR.”
Siva said as the new ATRs have come in, the airline company have reduced its Dash 8 fleet, and that process will continue.
“The Dash 8 remains a very good and capable aircraft, and will continue to operate on the smaller regional hubs and in providing excellent freight services,” says Siva.
“We have been very pleased with the performance and reliability of the ATR and our passengers appreciate flying in brand new state of the art aircraft and enjoy the comfort they offer.”
The airline will have its 5 ATRs in its fleet by December next year, giving it the youngest fleet in the country, and will have 2 more ATRs by the end of 2017.
The five additional new aircraft will bring the total ATR fleet to 12.
ATR aircraft are the world’s best-selling regional turboprop aircraft representing 80% of sales for such aircraft since 2010, and are flown by over 60 carriers in Asia and the Pacific.