The newest Boeing 787 customer is an interesting one!
In this post:
Air Niugini refreshes wide body fleet with Boeing 787s
Air Niugini, the national airline of Papua New Guinea, has just placed an order for two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. These planes are expected to be delivered starting in 2026.
The airline states that these jets will be used to support the growth of the carrier’s long haul fleet, and will allow the airline to fly new routes from the Pacific island nation, and boost capacity for inbound tourism.
Currently Air Niugini’s long haul fleet consists of two Boeing 767-300s. It’s not clear if those planes will be retired when the 787s join the fleet, or if the airline will simply more than double its long haul capacity.
Air Niugini currently has a total of around 20 planes. Beyond the 767s, this includes one Boeing 737-800, six Fokker 70s, seven Fokker 100s, and four Bombardier Dash 8s.
Here’s how Gary Seddon, acting CEO of Air Niugini, described this order:
“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.”
Meanwhile here’s how Erika Pearson, Boeing’s VP of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Southeast Asia and Oceania, described this order:
“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. The Dreamliner’s flexibility, outstanding efficiency and unmatched passenger comfort will enable Air Niugini to provide improved long-haul connectivity to the islands.”
I really want to fly with Air Niugini!
This Air Niugini aircraft order really reminds me of how much I want to fly with Air Niugini. I’ve written in the past about my desire to fly with the airline, as I’m so intrigued:
- You used to be able to redeem Qantas Frequent Flyer points for travel on Air Niugini, which you could rack up with some major transferable points currencies; unfortunately that partnership has ended, so I might actually have to pay cash for the ticket (grrr…)
- Air Niugini has a cool business class that’s in a 2-1-2 configuration, with reminds me of MIAT Mongolian’s 767 business class
- Air Niugini also has Fokker aircraft, which you don’t see many of nowadays, so that’s another fun element to a trip like this
- Unless things have recently changed, I’ve heard that Port Moresby actually isn’t safe to visit, so I’d probably just connect there while traveling from Singapore to Sydney, or something
What do y’all think? Is an Air Niugini adventure worth it, or is this too random/obscure for most?
Bottom line
Air Niugini has placed an order for two Boeing 787s, which should be delivered to the airline as of 2026. It’s nice to see this quirky little airline refreshing its long haul fleet, and I’m curious to learn more details about what the onboard product will be like.
This really reminds me of how much I want to fly with Air Niugini, and frankly a combination of a Boeing 767 and a Fokker 100 might sound even more fun than flying a Boeing 787.
What do you make of Air Niugini’s Boeing 787 order?
I’ve shifted here 6months ago from Australia for work and flown PX probably 6 times including just yesterday from Port Moresby to Lae (second largest city). Incredibly exciting place to live. Yes, you need to be thoughtful about where you go but there is some amazing diving and snorkelling. Many WW2 Japanese and American wrecks, and yes definitely coming on the radar this part of the world for lots of reasons! Great climate.
Ben, If you're that keen to catch PX's 767 and F100 combo before the 767S are retired, then here's a itinerary that I occasionally used. Catch the redeye from SIN to POM (767) which is about 5 times weekly arrives around 5am local time, then go into the transit lounge after passing a quick and breezy immigration (it's perfectly fine for a few hours) and catch the daily 9am (F100) POM to CNS.
Port Moresby isn't that bad. Like others have said - Airways Hotel is fine. If you go, I highly recommend Rabaul: volcanoes, great diving, and a world class mask festival in July with tribes performing from all over PNG and the Solomon Islands. I found the people of PNG to be warm and welcoming. I would go back in a heartbeat. Also PX airlines is an interesting airline to fly. When checking in for flight to Rabaul, I saw people with luggage made of palm fronds.
Amazing little airline. My old man worked for them for years and if you get a chance to fly them, do it. They're not going to win (or pay for) any Skytrax awards anytime soon but there's always amazing, friendly service, plenty of booze and an island vibe. I'll be interested to see what the pointy end looks like because while 2-1-2 is fun, the novely can wear off pretty quickly!
Also, Port Moresby...
Amazing little airline. My old man worked for them for years and if you get a chance to fly them, do it. They're not going to win (or pay for) any Skytrax awards anytime soon but there's always amazing, friendly service, plenty of booze and an island vibe. I'll be interested to see what the pointy end looks like because while 2-1-2 is fun, the novely can wear off pretty quickly!
Also, Port Moresby and Mt Hagen are the only places you want to avoid. Give Madang, Rabaul, Alotau and Kavieng a crack. Friendliest people in the world and absolute paradise. Transfers should be available same day of arrival. If not, book a night at Airways and have a beer overlooking the airport with views down to the beach.
The US State Department has set the travel advisory level to 3 for Papua New Guinea: Reconsider travel to Papua New Guinea due to crime, civil unrest, and piracy.
Flew with then around 12 y.ago within Png and from Png to Sin. The flight attendant announcement was like she was either high or drunk and that irritated passenger next to me to the point of comolaint. Png is an amazing country worth of visit.
We do a massive amount of PX (Air Niugini) bookings. I feel like 1/3 of the expat/missionary community working in PNG buys through us. Word of mouth has been insane as it's a tight-knit expat community.
Right now PX, QF, and PR are the only three options to/from POM. PX is insanely expensive on its own. I would love if a few other airlines would throw their hat in the ring. Fortunately PX has interline...
We do a massive amount of PX (Air Niugini) bookings. I feel like 1/3 of the expat/missionary community working in PNG buys through us. Word of mouth has been insane as it's a tight-knit expat community.
Right now PX, QF, and PR are the only three options to/from POM. PX is insanely expensive on its own. I would love if a few other airlines would throw their hat in the ring. Fortunately PX has interline agreements with QF, QR, and EK which is how we get the majority of folks to/from.
PR has been incredibly unreliable, regularly canceling their LAX flight or else they would be a fantastically direct option.
Air Nuigini flies from Brisbane to Palau nonstop. You can fly that route and never stop in PNG at all.
I think PNG is going to become more and more relevant in American circles in the coming years. They signed a defense pact with the US just a few weeks ago, and PNG seems to be leaning in to linking up with the West. A review of you flying Air Niugini, I believe, could be useful for many.
I always have to LOL when i hear or read from US Americans "I’ve heard that Port Moresby actually isn’t safe to visit" or "overpriced" . . . when talking about places outside of the USA
:-) :-) :-)
Globetrotters with such an attitude give me goosebumps, they travel to Las Vegas, San Francisco or Miami which al ALL overpriced, thinking of any risk of being NOT "safe", but going to Memphis, Chicago, Washington,...
I always have to LOL when i hear or read from US Americans "I’ve heard that Port Moresby actually isn’t safe to visit" or "overpriced" . . . when talking about places outside of the USA
:-) :-) :-)
Globetrotters with such an attitude give me goosebumps, they travel to Las Vegas, San Francisco or Miami which al ALL overpriced, thinking of any risk of being NOT "safe", but going to Memphis, Chicago, Washington, St. Louis or Las Vegas . . . i think, even Johannesburg is safe compared to those places.
You guys make me laugh a lot.
Coming from a country, where your next door neighbor might just greet you with a gun on your forehead, because it's legal.
LOL
I don't think, I would want to fly with them since they missed runaway in Chuuk. I saw that particular plane not long before it ended up in the ocean and always remembered about it when landing at Chuuk.
Port Moresby certainly isn’t the safest place but it’s certainly not impossible! You could spend a night at the real nice Airways Hotel right by Jackson International Airport, which has a pool and restaurant overlooking the runway. Used to go often when I was a kid growing up there. Port Moresby downtown itself doesn’t really warrant a visit, but just a drive around town would be interesting (hotel could probably arrange). Oh and the Parliament...
Port Moresby certainly isn’t the safest place but it’s certainly not impossible! You could spend a night at the real nice Airways Hotel right by Jackson International Airport, which has a pool and restaurant overlooking the runway. Used to go often when I was a kid growing up there. Port Moresby downtown itself doesn’t really warrant a visit, but just a drive around town would be interesting (hotel could probably arrange). Oh and the Parliament Haus is cool. Unfortunately Moresby isn’t amongst the most picturesque parts of PNG - you’d need to get the Highlands and the islands for that (as noted by others).
If you go to PNG stay at least a night at the Hilton... afaik it's the only higher-end points hotel in the city and there aren't many reviews out there about it
Please make this a review! Love the obscure stuff since nobody else does it (MIAT, TAAG…)
I would love to hear about your experience spending a night in PNG!
Personally, I would stick to Singapore, but PNG is incredible and well worth a visit. PM is not the safest, but as long as you aren't out at night it's fine. A friend just stayed at a Marriott property there and said they had guards but it felt like overkill. The rest of the country is incredible, especially if you're into wildlife and snorkeling/diving.
Unfortunately, you can't redeem Qantas points to fly Air Niugini any more. That partnership ended almost 3 years ago - https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/qantas-ends-air-niugini-partnership/
These will be cool planes to fly on, though!
I have a friend who chooses them over QF when flying BNE-POM! Their service is island great…
I was there in March and certainly appreciated my local hosts. I felt safe with them but probably wouldn’t travel solo