Airline Confirms Conversion Of Options One Year After First Delivery

A $134 million contract has been signed between ATR and Papua New Guinea carrier PNG for the firm purchase of five ATR 72-600s. The deal represents the conversion into firm orders of five options from a previous deal.

Formerly known as Airlines PNG, PNG Air signed for a total of six firm ATR 72-600s and 14 options in 2014. They started operating their first ATR 72-600 in November 2015. Today, the airline operates four ATR 72-600s and will receive the fifth aircraft before the end of this year. The five new ATR 72-600 aircraft plus an additional one on lease will bring the total ATR fleet to 12 when the last aircraft is delivered in 2022.

The airline is currently undergoing a major transformation plan, with an ambitious fleet renewal and rebranding and a new business strategy focused on the domestic market. PNG Air is also expanding into corporate transportation to support businesses aiming to develop their natural resource activities within Papua New Guinea.

“The entry into service of our ATR -600s clearly supports our strategy to transform our business by modernising our fleet and offering Papua New Guinea a new standard of domestic air service that is more comfortable and dependable," said Muralee Siva, Chief Executive Officer of PNG Air. "We will progressively phase out our previous-generation turboprops to introduce an aircraft that has become a reference on the regional market worldwide."

(Image provided with ATR news release)

FMI: www.atraircraft.com