Hey all,
Air Niugini's recent reveal as the customer for four 737-MAX8s has had me thinking long and hard about the future of this airline. I don't know that much about the airline but I am keen to find out any information about it's MAX plans and it's order for the single RR-powered Dreamliner 8 due for delivery in 2017.
There were rumours that a second Dreamliner was to be ordered 'imminently' but I haven't heard anything about this for ages.
I am guessing the Dreamliner(s) will replace the current 767 twins... but are there plans for any new routes with the 787?
Also, the four MAXs on order would provide a leap in capacity and performance compared to the current 3x737-800s and single 737-700. Any expansion plans to utilise these factors?
I am looking forward to seeing both the PX 787 and MAXs in Sydney at some point!
Cheers,
Bunumuring.
Moderators: jsumali2, richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
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- bunumuring
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Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
I just wanna live while I'm alive!
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- Motorhussy
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RE: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
Does the Max8 have the legs for a Pt Moresby - AKL flight? I'm surprised they don't fly to Darwin.
come visit the south pacific
RE: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
| Quoting motorhussy (Reply 2): Does the Max8 have the legs for a Pt Moresby - AKL flight? I'm surprised they don't fly to Darwin. |
Apparently is has an range of 3,515 nmi so technically could make AKL.
POM-AKL is 2,228 nm so approximately 5 hours subject to wind etc, in theory an A320 could already make it.
RE: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
| Quoting bunumuring (Thread starter): |
They really need to sort out the F100 and DHC8, the new expensive aircraft on unprofitable international routes is not going to help.
| Quoting motorhussy (Reply 2): Does the Max8 have the legs for a Pt Moresby - AKL flight? |
Thats a tricky one, I would suspect not when alternates are taken into account. Even CNS-AKL is pushing it.
That being said, if they wanted to stop by NOU as a tech stop on the days which are fuel critical it might work.
| Quoting motorhussy (Reply 2): I'm surprised they don't fly to Darwin. |
I am not, what sort of trade exists between the two cities ?
“Don't be a show-off. Never be too proud to turn back. There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots.” E. Hamilton Lee, 1949
RE: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
| Quoting zeke (Reply 4): Thats a tricky one, I would suspect not when alternates are taken into account. Even CNS-AKL is pushing it. |
They could probably do an AKL-CNS-POM service, if they could get local traffic rights between CNS-AKL could work pretty well for them.
NZ uses an A320 on AKL-CNS, so does PH on there AKL-CNS-MLL route. Although NZ is upping CNS to an 772 this winter.
RE: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
| Quoting zkncj (Reply 5): They could probably do an AKL-CNS-POM service, if they could get local traffic rights between CNS-AKL could work pretty well for them. |
I don't know how much traffic there would from AKL.
Part of the problem, for both the country and the airline, is that there has been little investment in major tourist resorts. The resorts that do exist are mostly of the smaller "home stay" type and can be a bit run down.
Madang, (or Mad Ang as I call it) on the northern coast is pleasant enough and has a couple of small resort hotels - 50 rooms? Trouble is, the coast is mangrove swamp, the nearest beach is 50 k away and the lake (or large pond) in town is filled with crocodiles. There are also problems of local crime.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/crocodil...pua-new-guinea-20140514-zrd2k.html
"Crocodile eats boy, 11, in Papua New Guinea"
I've always thought that Rabaul is ripe for tourist development, several cruise ships stop there, and there are a couple of nice hotels but again, there has been little major investment.
This doesn't seem to stop Air Niugini filling their aircraft, at least to Australia (I've been off-loaded more than once), but a lot of that is government, NGO or mining traffic.
From Lonely Planet:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/papua-new-guinea
"Travelling in PNG can be challenging. With almost no tourism infrastructure and limited information available in books and on websites, it can feel like you’re stepping into the great unknown. But this is exactly why travellers find this country so compelling. Nothing is contrived for tourists and every experience is authentic - even the main island of Bougainville is a largely DIY travel experience."
Great for the adventurous (and there are a lot of rewards) but for the tourist who just wants to blot out on a beach, PNG can be a bit daunting.
mariner
[Edited 2016-03-27 13:32:56]
aeternum nauta
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- eta unknown
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RE: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
The only routes PX needs the 767/787 are BNE and SIN- both to fill cargo demand. Pax loads on PX have taken a hit with the completion of the LNG facility. CEB has been dropped and NRT is once weekly with a 737.
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- Planesmart
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RE: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
I would have thought that with the software overhead involved with the 78 series, small operators will struggle to operate the type, especially if they have only one, based in a remote location, unless in this case, NZ or QF are providing extensive operational support.
RE: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
Keep in mind PX lease their fleet from Icelandic Air's parent company loftleidir. These guys do everything for PX from top to bottom.
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- TruemanQLD
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RE: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
| Quoting Planesmart (Reply 8): I would have thought that with the software overhead involved with the 78 series, small operators will struggle to operate the type, especially if they have only one, based in a remote location, unless in this case, NZ or QF are providing extensive operational support. |
QF and PX do already have a close relationship, though exactly how close I do not know. Unsure if there is much of a relationship with NZ given there are no PNG-NZ flights at present.
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- hkcanadaexpat
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RE: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
| Quoting bunumuring (Thread starter): There were rumours that a second Dreamliner was to be ordered 'imminently' but I haven't heard anything about this for ages. |
My understanding is the second 787 for Air Niugini is listed under Icelandair in the Boeing O&D. It doesn't actually belong to Icelandair anymore (the subsidiary of Icelandair that holds it was sold off during a previous restructuring) but is financially guaranteed by Icelandair. It will be leased to Air Niugini once delivered in 2018. Things could have changed but that was the original plan.
A
RE: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
As far as I know (can´t reveal sources) the PX 787 order will be cancelled/deferred for a looong time as part of the B737MAX order.
Also they will not lease the (previously ordered by ICE) B787, it is being remarketed although no taker yet.
Since they can use the B737NG for Tokyo, it should be able to do HKG as well. Problem is the return leg with the alternate airport in CNS, or are they
using Lae for that one?
The PNG is a strange place. Flew there for a short while, and loved it. Hope they do well, but they need to get their act together on so many levels.
Also they will not lease the (previously ordered by ICE) B787, it is being remarketed although no taker yet.
Since they can use the B737NG for Tokyo, it should be able to do HKG as well. Problem is the return leg with the alternate airport in CNS, or are they
using Lae for that one?
The PNG is a strange place. Flew there for a short while, and loved it. Hope they do well, but they need to get their act together on so many levels.
Re: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
Hey all, so any update on when Air Niugini's B788 will be delivered?
Mods: Please don't lock this as it's a rarely discussed topic, so using this one from a few months ago is convenient. Thanks
Mods: Please don't lock this as it's a rarely discussed topic, so using this one from a few months ago is convenient. Thanks
Re: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
On the subject of PX - they've been serving PNI and TKK and PNG just negotiated open skies with Japan including routes via FSM. Is PX planning TKK-NRT and PNI-NRT? Even once a week I can't see the market there. Neither have the beaches or infrastructure that Palau has, plus they have fairly short runways.
When I saw them open PNI and TKK I said that was a money-losing venture from the start. What was the rationale there and how are they actually doing now?
When I saw them open PNI and TKK I said that was a money-losing venture from the start. What was the rationale there and how are they actually doing now?
Re: Air Niugini And The MAX/Dreamliner
Ok, hopefully someone out there has some info on their 787...
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