AIR NIUGINI IS COMMITTED TO SAFETY
April 20, 2023
“Our top priority at Air Niugini is ensuring the highest levels of safety for our passengers, crew, and the public. We are fully committed to this goal and will take all necessary measures to maintain safety standards. This includes the possibility of delaying or cancelling a flight due to factors such as bad weather, security issues, technical problems, or operational requirements. Our dedication to safety is unwavering, and we will not compromise it for any reason.”
That’s from Air Niugini’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Gary Seddon following recent flight delays and queries from the traveling public.
According to Seddon, while the inconvenience caused is regrettable, safety will always be given priority over other interests. The company boasts a team of highly skilled engineers and maintenance personnel who are dedicated to safety and work tirelessly day and night to ensure that the aircraft are safe to operate.
Since April 2022, Air Niugini has operated over 26,000 flights and carried 1.2 million passengers. Last month, we operated over 2,000 flights and carried 102 thousand passengers. With 92.21% of sectors completed, we recognise that over 7% of our flights were cancelled, for various reasons. Over the same period, Jetstar cancelled 6.4% of its flights, Qantas 4.4% and Virgin Australia 3.5%[1].
While the Fokker jets have served the country well, it’s time to replace them with larger modern aircraft that features the latest technology with enhanced fuel efficiency. Seddon stated that Air Niugini has reviewed various new fleet options narrowing the selection to the new Airbus A220 and Embraer E2 regional jets. This will enable Air Niugini to better serve its domestic and regional markets.
In the interim, Air Niugini is in the process of acquiring six Boeing 737-800 and Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, expected from September this year.
Corporate Communications Department
Thursday 20th April, 2023