Air Niugini has revealed its first Airbus A220, known as The People’s Balus, fresh from Airbus’s Mirabel facility in Canada and painted in the flag carrier’s red, black and gold with a special 50th anniversary insignia. The aircraft is currently registered as C-FOWU. It was painted in Canada by a team of 120 painters working in continuous shifts. The livery incorporates the national flag and the official independence anniversary logo, using an overlay airbrushing technique that has only been applied to an A220 on one other occasion.
The airline bills the A220 as a symbol of renewal, a quieter and more efficient narrow body that will deepen domestic resilience and expand regional connectivity. Inside, the A220 brings modern comforts such as more spacious seating, improved lighting and a very quiet cabin. The airline says complimentary on-board Wi-Fi will keep passengers connected as it charts a post-pandemic growth path across Melanesia and beyond. Source: PNG Haus Bung.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Air Niugini board has suspended Chief Executive Gary Seddon while it seeks explanations related to operational readiness for the induction of the first A220. Matters raised include operations manuals, spare parts, reporting procedures and contingency planning ahead of entry into service. The suspension was first reported on 21 August and has been confirmed in subsequent industry coverage.
Air Niugini has ordered a total of eight Airbus A220-100 and leased three A220-300 as part of its ongoing fleet renewal programme. The first A220-300 is expected to arrive in Port Moresby in September to coincide with the national independence celebrations. Upon delivery, its registration will change to P2-PGA.
The fleet refresh comes as the aviation sector plays catch up on reliability and costs after years of supply chain constraints and infrastructure bottlenecks. An A220-led narrow-body backbone could cut fuel burn and maintenance downtime, giving Air Niugini more schedule discipline on trunk routes and the flexibility to add thinner regional services. Management describes the aircraft as a flying ambassador for Papua New Guinea’s diversity and resilience, an image sharpened by the 50th anniversary livery. A full public unveiling was slated for the following week, with details on deployment and crew training to follow. Source: PNG Haus Bung.
