Article from today's PC.
PX to purchase new planes
AIR Niugini is to buy two of the most modern middle-range aircraft available to boost its international services.
They are the Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner aircraft, State Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare said.
The Minister, whose portfolio encompasses all the State-owned enterprises including Air Niugini, made the revelation last Friday.
Mr Somare would not reveal the cost and further details, saying that would come later.
He was speaking at the start of the inaugural direct service from Port Moresby to Australian capital, Sydney.
Boeing is manufacturing the Dreamliner at its Seattle, Washington, assembly plant.
The 800 series can carry 210 to 250 passengers on routes of 14,200 to 15,200 kilometres according to the company’s own website.
It boasts fuel consumption 20 per cent less for comparable flights than today’s similarly sized planes.
But the first of the Dreamliner planes will not be in the air for commercial flight until early next year.
Mr Somare said Air Niugini could be getting its first Dreamliner by 2010. Asked if the new planes would be leased, like many of the airline’s fleet, he said “no, we will be buying them’’.
It is believed the purchase may be done in a form of public-private partnership, possibly with Qantas, the Australian national airline which shares flights to PNG with Air Niugini.
Last Friday, Air Niugini began its twice-weekly direct flights from Moresby to Sydney, using a Brazil-made Embraer 190 aircraft leased from Brisbane-based Sky Air World.
Airline chief executive officer Wasantha Kumarasiri said the Sydney operation would also ensure extra services from Moresby to Brisbane on a daily basis.
Mr Somare told journalists on the flight that the use of the Embraer and, later, the Dreamliner, would allow the airline to be more reliable on its domestic service.
The Embraer is a twin-engined, medium range jet airliner offering a 94-seat dual class cabin.
In-flight entertainment would be available with portable videos, high resolution touch screens and a personal media player with a selection of movies, music videos, CDs and options.
Suggest 2010 is fantasy. 2 x 787 ...wow! Wonder what the business case was to support this. Good luck to them, but hope it isn't just another case of delusions of grandeur.
Dingo