Air Niugini could rethink fleet after pushing back Max deliveries

Air Niugini is delaying deliveries of four ordered Boeing 737 Max jets until at least 2024, and indicates it might reconsider operating the aircraft at all. MD Alan Milne explains the delay was effected as the Papua New Guinean airline undertook a broader review of its fleet plan, including a study of replacement options for its Fokker regional jets. “This will then determine if the Max is still appropriate for Air Niugini, or whether other Boeing products would better suit as a replacement for the airline’s existing Fokker, Boeing 737 and 767 aircraft types,” states Milne. He says the 737 Max order could be switched to other aircraft from Boeing, or to smaller Embraer E2 jets. However, any such move would be contingent on Boeing’s plans to acquire the Brazilian airframer’s commercial division. <br/>