Air Niugini has welcomed the first two Airbus A220 pilots from Latvian carrier airBaltic to Papua New Guinea, marking another important step in the airline’s preparations for the continued expansion of its A220 fleet and the development of its local pilot workforce.

Captain Andrej Rud and Captain Janis Kolontajs arrived in Port Moresby last week and are among 30 experienced A220 pilots who will join Air Niugini under a 12-month arrangement to support A220 operations, while also contributing to the training and development of Air Niugini’s flight crew. The remaining pilots are expected to arrive progressively over the next two months.

Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer Alan Milne said the arrangement with airBaltic provides valuable A220 expertise as the airline continues its fleet transformation.

“We are pleased to welcome our first airBaltic pilots to Papua New Guinea. Their experience will add significant value as we continue to grow our A220 operation and strengthen the capability of our own flight crew,” Mr Milne said.

“This arrangement also reflects our approach to building a sustainable A220 operation in the long term. We are bringing in specialised experience while continuing to invest in our people and develop the skills and confidence needed to operate this aircraft within Air Niugini.”

Air Niugini General Manager, Flight Operations, Captain Granger Narara said the arrival of the airBaltic pilots would provide an important boost to the airline’s A220 operational and training programme.

“These are highly experienced A220 pilots and, importantly, they bring instructor-level knowledge and experience that will complement the training our own pilots have already undertaken,” Captain Narara said.

“Their role will be both operational and developmental. They will fly alongside Air Niugini crew while also supporting our pilot training and helping to transfer valuable A220 knowledge and operational experience to our local flight crew. This will assist us as we continue building our own A220 pilot capability.”

Under the arrangement, 30 airBaltic pilots will support Air Niugini’s A220 operations over the 12-month period. They will work on a 28-day rotation, with approximately 15 pilots based in Papua New Guinea at any given time.

The initiative forms part of Air Niugini’s broader workforce development programme as the airline continues to train and qualify its own pilots for the growing A220 fleet.

AirBaltic, Latvia’s national airline based in Riga, Northern Europe, is the world’s largest operator of the Airbus A220-300 and has extensive experience operating the aircraft since becoming its launch operator in 2016. This depth of A220 experience makes airBaltic a valuable partner as Air Niugini continues to expand its own A220 operations.

Air Niugini’s A220 programme is a key component of its long-term fleet modernisation strategy. The airline currently has three A220-300 aircraft in service, with a further eight A220-100 aircraft on firm order, bringing the planned A220 fleet to 11 aircraft.

The new-generation aircraft will provide greater efficiency, passenger comfort and operational flexibility as Air Niugini modernises its fleet and strengthens its domestic and regional network.

The first two airBaltic pilots have commenced their integration into Air Niugini’s A220 operations, with the remaining pilots expected to join the programme progressively over the next two months.