One of the upcoming Boeing 787 operators I was most looking forward to flying has just canceled its order for the plane at the last minute. Not only that, but with the carrier’s current wide body aircraft expected to be retired soon, one wonders what the future holds…
In this post:
Air Niugini’s wide body future is looking very uncertain
Air Niugini, the government owned national airline of Papua New Guinea, no longer has plans to acquire two Boeing 787-8s, as reported by ch-aviation. For context, in 2023, the airline placed an order for two Dreamliners — deliveries were initially expected in 2026, but the delivery timeline was eventually pushed back to late 2027.
The intent was that these two planes would replace the carrier’s two Boeing 767-300ERs, which are the wide body aircraft the airline currently flies. The 787 would represent a significant step up in terms of passenger experience, range, and also capacity, and it’s a plane some of us were excited to see.
However, the airline has ultimately decided it no longer wants these planes, as this order has quietly been dropped. As a result, the airline no longer has any wide body planes on order.
What makes this even more noteworthy is that both of Air Niugini’s 767s are leased, and the leases are supposed to expire at the end of 2026, so that means the airline may no longer have any wide body aircraft. Now, given that the 767s are an average of over 30 years old, I imagine a lease extension is also possible, since I suspect the owners don’t have any super lucrative plans for these planes, other than to use them for parts. So we’ll see how this evolves.
Interestingly, Air Niugini is currently modernizing its narrow body fleet, as the airline takes delivery of 11 Airbus A220s (eight A220-100s and three A220-300s), and that’s expected to continue. Those are replacing Fokker 70s and Fokker 100s. Goodness, the airline has a fun fleet!
Why did Air Niugini backtrack on its Dreamliner plans?
Air Niugini has apparently been uncertain about its Boeing 787 plans for quite some time. In early 2025, the company’s chairman noted that they were reviewing the Dreamliner agreement due to “changing circumstances.” Months later, the CEO at the time continued to insist that the planes would still be delivered, as it was an important part of the carrier’s overall strategy.
However, the airline did recently get a new CEO (well, a returning CEO, who was at the airline until 2020, at which point he served as CEO of SkyTeam). According to company officials, in the short term, the goal is to focus on “maintaining and enhancing operations and profitability,” and in the medium term, they will “prepare Air Niugini for initial partial privatisation at the right time.”
Aircraft are of course expensive, so I guess the government just decided it didn’t want to spend that type of money right now, and I assume that the typical Dreamliner delivery delays gave them an out anyway, without penalty.
While I can appreciate the desire to focus on a more financially sustainable airline, it’s also worth mentioning that Air Niugini’s wide body flights import and export a lot of things from Papua New Guinea, so I have to imagine this will have bigger economic impacts.
Bottom line
Unfortunately Air Niugini no longer has plans to acquire two Boeing 787s. Given that the carrier’s two Boeing 767s are expected to be retired soon, that leaves the carrier with an uncertain future when it comes to wide body operations. At the same time, the airline is continuing to take delivery of Airbus A220s, which are at least modernizing the narrow body fleet.
What do you make of this Air Niugini development?
First thing comes to mind.
A321 XLR
Would love to read boeings faces when that happens
There are 3 relatively cheap 757s ex North Pacific up for sale at moment. They would be a good option for Air Niugini who has leased 757s in past.
PX are not ruling out widebodies, they're just ruling out the 787 which was originally touted by former CEO Mr. W. Kumarasiri way back in the day. PX's needs and plans have changed more dramatically than most similarly-placed airlines in just the past few years alone, and the board responded appropriately. Why? Because the 787 is a better economic fit for longer haul routes than what PX currently operates (6 - 6.5 hours). The 787...
PX are not ruling out widebodies, they're just ruling out the 787 which was originally touted by former CEO Mr. W. Kumarasiri way back in the day. PX's needs and plans have changed more dramatically than most similarly-placed airlines in just the past few years alone, and the board responded appropriately. Why? Because the 787 is a better economic fit for longer haul routes than what PX currently operates (6 - 6.5 hours). The 787 deal was on the assumption that at least two long haul routes (one of which was the UAE) would commence. Those planned long haul routes have been cancelled. So PX will continue to operate medium hauls (6 - 6.5 hours on current routes), with Auckland being the newest. Do not be surprised if two a330 frames are announced at a much later date, which would make PX mainline an all Airbus fleet for the first time (excluding their Link PNG subsidiary which operates Bombardier Dash 8 ). For all you 767 classic lovers, relax. The two frames currently in operation will be around for a bit longer than anticipated..
Their longest routes, Tokyo and Singapore, are within range of the A220
and you think they have no ambition to fly to any other destinations ?? Perhaps, the B787-8 may not be the best choice? A B787-9 may be a better / more appropriate for,? Perhaps, Air Nui Guinea might want to re-sign its fleet to those of its south Pacific neighbours, ensuring easier and more cost-efficient operations. ?
Logical? Probably yes. Manageable? Probably yes, also. Cost effective,? I would probably bet on it.
Let's face it....
and you think they have no ambition to fly to any other destinations ?? Perhaps, the B787-8 may not be the best choice? A B787-9 may be a better / more appropriate for,? Perhaps, Air Nui Guinea might want to re-sign its fleet to those of its south Pacific neighbours, ensuring easier and more cost-efficient operations. ?
Logical? Probably yes. Manageable? Probably yes, also. Cost effective,? I would probably bet on it.
Let's face it. Speculation can vary from 'spot on' to 'out of the park'. And frankly, Air Nui Guinea is not a well-known or inderstood entity outside of its neighbourhood.
Let's call a spade a spade: the government of PNG is broke. The re-entry of Alan Milne to the position of CEO bodes well for the managing of PX (Air Niugini.)
What PX needs - what it has always needed - is both pragmatism and creativity. Both of which have been difficult to come by under the ownership model (SOE- State Owned Entity) of the airline. Unfortunately State Ownership created this institutional ethos whereby the...
Let's call a spade a spade: the government of PNG is broke. The re-entry of Alan Milne to the position of CEO bodes well for the managing of PX (Air Niugini.)
What PX needs - what it has always needed - is both pragmatism and creativity. Both of which have been difficult to come by under the ownership model (SOE- State Owned Entity) of the airline. Unfortunately State Ownership created this institutional ethos whereby the airline became a plaything for the Government of PNG and all its associates.
The PNG Kina has deteriorated to the point where imports (fuel in the case of the airline) have become an overwhelming imposition. 600 AUD sent via Western Union two weeks ago fetched 2,020 PGK. The condition of the country overall is reflected in PX. And yet creativity is the light in such somber-gloomy circumstances. Under the pragmatic officership of Milne during his first tenure, Qantas Link were bringing their Q400s to POM (Port Moresby) for maintenance. Work was created in POM and space was freed back in Australia. And that very poor PGK rate...ask Qantas Link if they were happy signing the cheque for services rendered.
The crux of the why as to the abandonment of the 787 is not available to us. Nevertheless, it is a pragmatic decision - intentional or otherwise.
The country doesn't need the unnecessary impost of two 787s. PNG should work with what it has. Fly the A220s on the Asian routes and convert the 767s to Freighters. Couture products in the realm of agriculture (as an example) need a dedicated government envoy to encourage and facilitate the creation and logistics of such products into international markets. The 767s as freighters can play a vital role in the logistics sphere. Belly freight is one thing: a dedicated freighter can so so much more. And why not see if PX can get into bed with DHL. Tasman Cargo Airlines represents DHL in the land down under and then across the ditch (New Zealand); and I've seen them on Flight Radar going to Asia.
Weaknesses can be strengths! Having Milne back as CEO and ditching the 787s is the pragmatic restart needed.
Logic takes you from A to B. Creativity takes you everywhere else. Albert Einstein!
If I were them, I would probably do the same thing. I might try to renew the 767 leases or get the A321 or just operate A220's.
Huh. I've heard both great and horrible things about PNG. Like, on one hand, untouched natural beauty; on the other hand, you'll get immediately murdered in Port Moresby, so... which is it?
Air what?
Don't embarrass yourself.
Thanks for the suggestion. Now go crawl back under your rock.
The A220 has the range to cover the existing PX long haul routes and can increase frequencies to SIN HKG MNL. They could possibly add PVD NRT ICN. They negative is losing cargo uplift. Solution. Lease a wide body freighter and exploit the Australia to Asia market.