Air Niugini, the flag carrier of Papua New Guinea, announced an order for two brand-new Boeing 787-8s. Local media reports that the first Boeing 787-8 is slated for delivery in 2026. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner will help replace the airline's fleet of two Boeing 767-300s, its primary long-haul workhorse.

In a statement, Air Niugini's acting CEO Garry Seddon said, “Signing this contract with Boeing for the purchase of two modern, widebody 787 Dreamliners will enable Air Niugini to grow its network across Asia, Australia, and New Zealand and fulfill its mission as the premier airline in Papua New Guinea, providing the best air service in the region.”

Currently, Air Niugini utilizes the Boeing 767-300 to connect the Asian hubs of Singapore and Hong Kong with Papua New Guinea's capital: Port Moresby. Pre-pandemic, the airline had service to Tokyo-Narita from Port Moresby. A proposed flight to Auckland would be an addition to the airline's network.

"The excellent capability of the 787 allows Air Niugini to open Port Moresby to more destinations, increasing tourism and economic growth in the South Pacific region," states Erika Pearson, Boeing vice president, Commercial Sales and Marketing, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

In addition, Air Niugini connects Brisbane and Port Moresby with its Boeing 767-300; Sydney and Port Moresby with its single Boeing 737-800; and Cairns with one of its aging Fokkers. Its connections throughout Australia are bolstered by a codeshare with Qantas, which holds a 12 percent stake in the airline.

Air Niugini is the latest customer for the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Records show that the airline previously had an order for one Boeing 787-8 due for delivery in 2017. This was unfortunately canceled. 

The airline follows other carriers such as the budding startup Riyadh Air, Azerbaijan Airlines, and China Airlines, in topping off or becoming the latest customers of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. A wave of surging widebody demand has arrived for both Airbus and Boeing.

Fleet Growth Ambitions

Air Niugini is seizing the opportunity to bolster its aging fleet. Notably, both of its Boeing 767-300 aircraft are 23 and 31 years old, according to statistics from planespotters.net. Similarly, the airline has a fleet of aging Fokkers that are its regional backbone, all upwards of 25 years in age.

In addition, the airline faces a shortage of available aircraft with longer-range capabilities to expand its network. The airline only has one Boeing 737-800, for example. To improve its short-haul abilities, Air Niugini hopes to add four Dash-8 Q400 turboprops and two Boeing 737-800s to its fleet in the short-term by September. 

For the long term, Air Niugini is eyeing Embraer E2s or Airbus A220s to replace its Fokkers. Embraer flew its Profit Hunter Demonstrator E2 to Port Moresby earlier this year to court Air Niugini for an order of 11 Embraer E2s, per Aviation Week. In addition, Air Niugini has four Boeing 737 MAX 8s on order.