Airline reports exceptional performance

PNG Air has noted an exceptional performance in its operation since adding three ATR 72-600 aircraft into its fleet last year.
PNG Air chief commercial officer Paul Abbot said performance-wise, the ATR aircraft exceeded expectations “in terms of fuel efficiency and the additional numbers we are re getting from customers”.
“The new ATRs have increased capacity and have allowed us to put more seats in the market,” Abbot said.
“We have gone from about 320,000 passengers last year to about 400,000 in the past 12 months.
“Some of it is due to the fact there are more people moving around the country.
“We are seeing freight volumes holding and it’s positive.
“We chose the ATR because it was going to get us into the majority of airstrips in PNG.
“It is not limited like other aircraft in the market and it gets into everywhere basically.
“For us it was choosing an aircraft that was going be right for the next 20 years and our challenge is to get more.”
An ATR 72-600 aircraft is estimated to cost USD24.7 million (K78.6 million) according to a price estimate in 2014 on the website Wikipedia.
The aircraft has the capacity to accommodate 70 passengers and has been used by PNG Air since November last year.
Abbot had also said that expansion was an ongoing priority for the company.
He said the projected expansion of the airline was by increasing its fleet and services capacity to cater for the market.
Abbot said: The fourth PNG Air ATR aircraft finishes production in two weeks and is available for delivery on August 22.