Air Niugini is continuing its fleet upgrade with a fresh order for two more Airbus A220-100 jets, adding to its initial purchase of six in 2023. On top of that, the national airline of Papua New Guinea has signed lease deals for three larger A220-300s with US-based leasing firm Azorra.
The latest order was announced just as the airline’s first A220 entered final assembly at Airbus’ Mirabel facility in Canada.
Air Niugini CEO Gary Seddon said the A220 would play a key role in the airline’s domestic and regional operations. “The A220 is set to form the backbone of our domestic and regional fleet and will support economic development in Papua New Guinea. As we continue to forecast strong growth we have made the decision to increase our orders for this fuel efficient type, bringing a whole new level of efficiency and comfort for our operations,” he said.
Airbus’ EVP of Sales, Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, added: “This is Air Niugini’s second order for the A220. We are committed to working closely with the airline as we support its fleet renewal programme. The A220 is quite simply the most efficient aircraft in its size category, with a wider and spacious cabin and the range to fly non-stop to any destination on the carrier’s network.”
The A220 is designed to carry 100 to 160 passengers over distances of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km), depending on the variant and cabin layout. The A220-100 is suited for 100–135 seats, while the A220-300 fits 120–160 seats.
Powered by Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation GTF™ engines, the aircraft boasts a 25% cut in fuel use and carbon emissions per seat compared to older models. Like all Airbus aircraft, the A220 can currently operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with a goal of 100% SAF capability by 2030.
As of the end of April 2025, Airbus had secured over 900 orders for the A220 from more than 30 customers, with over 410 aircraft already delivered. The type is now flying with 24 operators across more than 1,600 routes to over 470 destinations globally, cementing its status as a leader in the small single-aisle market.
