AIR NIUGINI CEO ADDRESSES DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE DISRUPTIONS, CAUSED BY UNSERVICEABLE BOEING 767 AIRCRAFT

At Air Niugini, safety is our topmost priority. A team of highly skilled engineers and technicians are working tirelessly to rectify the issues and restore these aircraft to full operational capacity as soon as possible. However, due to the complexity of the required repairs and the availability of spare parts, we anticipate that the restoration process may take longer than initially expected. “We are hopeful to have one of the widebody aircraft operational by the end of Sunday 25 June. The parts were secured from the US and shipped overnight.” said the CEO. “The other aircraft will be unavailable for longer than expected, as we are performing an engine change, once a spare engine has been moved to Brisbane.”

As a result of both these unserviceable aircraft, we have had to make major adjustments to our flight schedules, leading to disruptions for our passengers traveling both domestically and internationally. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by these changes and understand the frustration this may cause our customers.

Air Niugini is actively engaging with affected passengers to minimise disruptions and provide suitable alternatives wherever possible. Our customer service teams are working diligently to assist passengers with rebooking, refunds, and accommodation arrangements as required.

We very much appreciate your patience and cooperation during this challenging period.

In the meantime, we are exploring all available options to alleviate the impact on our operations. We are working closely with our industry partners and evaluating the possibility of ‘wet leasing’ additional aircraft to supplement our fleet and minimise service disruptions.

However, due to the scarcity of available aircraft across the region, it is unlikely that additional aircraft will be used as a short term solution We are committed to ensuring that our customers’ travel plans are accommodated to the best of our ability.

“The integrity of the schedule has been a cause for concern for many months, which is why we have taken the necessary steps to procure four Q400 turboprop aircraft and 2 larger Boeing 737-800 narrow body regional jet aircraft. All units will be delivered to PNG before the end of 2023. We then expect brand new aircraft to join the fleet from the end of 2024 through to 2028,” said the CEO.

We understand that our passengers rely on us to provide seamless and reliable air transportation services, and we sincerely regret any inconvenience caused. We assure you that we are doing everything within our power to expedite the repairs and resume normal operations at the earliest.

Air Niugini remains steadfast in our commitment to safety, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction. We will continue to provide regular updates on the progress of the repairs and the restoration of our affected aircraft. We extend our deepest gratitude to our passengers, employees, and partners for their understanding and support during this challenging period.

“I am incredibly grateful to our valued passengers for their patience during this challenging time. I am also thankful to the dedicated Air Niugini team who are doing everything within their power to assist passengers to get to destinations,” said the CEO.

For further information, affected passengers are encouraged to visit our website at www.airniugini.com.pg or contact our customer service team on (+675) 327 3780/3291/3779/3305 or email us at ehelpdesk@airniugini.com.pg

Air Niugini is the national airline of Papua New Guinea, providing air transport services to domestic and international destinations. With a proud history spanning several decades, Air Niugini is dedicated to delivering safe, reliable, and world-class air travel experiences to its passengers. The airline operates a modern fleet of aircraft and offers a wide range of services, including passenger and cargo transportation, charter flights, and aviation training.

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Corporate Communications Department

Saturday 24 June 2023