Unforeseen technical difficulties with two of Air Niugini’s Boeing 767 aircrafts have rendered them both temporarily unserviceable in Brisbane. This is according to Acting Chief Executive Officer, Gary Seddon, who stated that a team comprised of highly skilled engineers and technicians has already been put in place and are working tirelessly to rectify the issues and restore these aircraft to full operational capacity as soon as possible. “At Air Niugini, safety is our topmost priority. However, due to the complexity of the required repairs and the availability of spare parts, we anticipate that the restoration process may take longer than initially expected.” “We are hopeful to have one of the wide body aircraft operational by the end of today (Sunday 25th of June). The parts were secured from the US and shipped overnight. The other aircraft will be unavailable for longer than expected, as we are performing an engine change, once a spare engine has been moved to Brisbane.” As a result of both these unserviceable aircraft, Air Niugini had to make major adjustments to their flight schedules, leading to disruptions for the passengers traveling both domestically and internationally. “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by these changes and understand the frustration this may cause our customers.” Seddon said that Air Niugini is actively engaging with affected passengers to minimize disruptions and provide suitable alternatives wherever possible. The customer service teams are working diligently to assist passengers with rebooking, refunds, and accommodation arrangements as required. Seddon expressed on behalf of the airline that they very much appreciate the patience and cooperation during this challenging period whilst in the meantime, they are exploring all available options to alleviate the impact on their operations. “We are working closely with our industry partners and evaluating the possibility of ‘wet leasing’ additional aircraft to supplement our fleet and minimize service disruptions.” However, due to the scarcity of available aircraft across the region, it is unlikely that additional aircraft will be used as a short-term solution. We are committed to ensuring that our customers' travel plans are accommodated to the best of our ability. “The integrity of the schedule has been a cause for concern for many months, which is why we have taken the necessary steps to procure four Q400 turboprop aircraft and 2 larger Boeing 737-800 narrow body regional jet aircraft. All units will be delivered to PNG before the end of 2023. We then expect brand new aircraft to join the fleet from the end of 2024 through to 2028.” Air Niugini understands that their passengers rely on them to provide seamless and reliable air transportation services, and sincerely regret any inconvenience caused. Air Niugini assures all passengers that they are doing everything within their power to expedite the repairs and resume normal operations at the earliest. They remain steadfast in their commitment to safety, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction and will continue to provide regular updates on the progress of the repairs and the restoration of their affected aircraft. “I am incredibly grateful to our valued passengers for their patience during this challenging time. I am also thankful to the dedicated Air Niugini team who are doing everything within their power to assist passengers to get to destinations.”