Boeing, Air Niugini Announce Order For 4 737 MAX 8s

By Massita Ahmad SINGAPORE, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Boeing and Air Niugini announced Friday at the Singapore Airshow an order for four 737 MAX 8 planes worth US$450 million. "The 737 MAX is the right equipment for our airline and for the Pacific region that we serve and to the 11 gateway points in Asia and the Pacific that we are operating in," said Air Niugini Chairman Sir Frederick Reiher at a press conference here. "Air Niugini is 42 years old. For half of that period, we have been a happy member of the Boeing family. "We hope Boeing could deliver the aircraft ahead of time, we need them urgently," he said. Air Niugini is expected to receive its first airplanes in 2020. "We are honoured to expand our current partnership with Air Niugini, with the addition of four 737 MAX 8 airplanes," said Dr Dinesh Keskar, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific and India Sales, Boeing Commercial Airlines. "The 737 MAX will provide Air Niugini with the fuel efficiency, operating economics and passenger amenities they need to ensure their success for the future," he said. The 373 MAX incorporates the latest CFM International LEAP-1B engines, advanced technology winglets and other improvements to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. The new single-aisle airplane will deliver 20 per cent lower fuel use than the first Next Generation 737s, and the lowest operating costs in its class -- 8.0 per cent per seat less than its nearest competitor. Air Niugini operates a robust domestic network of more than 25 destinations from its Port Moresby hub, as well as numerous international routes across Asia-Pacific, including Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Fiji, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, Japan and, in the near future, China. According to Keskar, the 737 MAX performed exceptionally well on its first test flight on Jan 29. -- BERNAMA