PNG’s Air Niugini turns to AirBaltic for a220 pilots

Air Niugini agrees pilot cooperation with airBaltic
Up to 45 airBaltic pilots may operate Air Niugini A220s
Air Niugini has three A220-300s and eight A220-100s on order
airBaltic filed for Chapter 11 on 14 September
Court granted interim approval for €140m financing

Air Niugini has entered into a cooperation agreement with airBaltic under which up to 45 airBaltic pilots may voluntarily operate Air Niugini’s A220s from 2027 the Latvian carrier confirmed. In a 10 September press release Air Niugini chief executive Alan Milne separately revealed that 44 experienced airBaltic pilots would support its own A220 operations from next year as the carrier seeks about 100 pilots for its future growth while continuing to train its own workforce.

Air Niugini’s Airbus fleet currently comprises three dry-leased A220-300s and it has a further eight A220-100s on firm order. The latter are due for delivery between 2027 and 2029 and will directly replace the carrier’s ageing F70s and F100s. The pilot arrangement comes as airBaltic undergoes substantial network and fleet cuts with the Latvian carrier revealing in August plans to reduce its A220-300 fleet from 54 aircraft to around 36 by the end of 2026.

Air Niugini disclosed the agreement four days before airBaltic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States on 14 September. Two days later the court granted interim approval for an initial €140 million ($161 million) of a €350 million ($404 million) debtor-in-possession financing facility.

Alan Milne, Chief Executive of Air Niugini, shared: “The airline is seeking about 100 pilots for its future growth while continuing to train its own workforce.”