This week’s trip report features an airline that few people have ever heard of, and even fewer are likely to ever fly! Based in Port Moresby, PNG Air is the second-largest airline in Papua New Guinea. The airline operates domestic routes within Papua New Guinea using a fleet of Dash 8 and ATR 72 turboprop aircraft. Formerly known as Airlines PNG, the airline recently rebranded to PNG Air.
Our member swanning_it recently flew PNG Air from Port Moresby to Mount Hagen, and they’ve taken the time to write a review of the flight.
PNG Air recently modernised its fleet with several new ATR 72-600 aircraft. This was the aircraft operating our member’s flight. Although the aircraft was less than a year old, our member did find the seating slightly uncomfortable.
I also jagged one of the three new ATR 72-600’s. PNG Air intend to increase that number to five before Christmas (I wonder if they know VA are getting rid of a few)! Well, basically, if you like VA’s ATR’s than you’ll like these as they’re the same (including the same uncomfortable seats).
Drinks and snacks were served on this short flight. But the highlight would have to have been the service provided by the crew. PNG Air prides itself on its friendly crew, and this flight was no exception.
The in flight snack even mimicked VA (coffee, tea, juice or water plus a couple of biscuits) but the safety briefing was delivered only in Tok Pisin. The flight attendants were extremely pleasant and one of them, noticing I was taking some photos of my travel companions (some highlanders who had never flown before), even came and asked me if I would like her to take a photo of me with my team! That was a thoughtful touch.
There may not be any in-flight entertainment on the plane, but there was one unexpected highlight: the in-flight magazine.
As a side, they have a fabulous in-flight magazine which is a great read as it focusses on PNG tourist spots, which are not all that well known.
Overall, our member says they were very happy with the flight and wouldn’t hesistate to fly PNG Air in the future. So, if you’re headed to Papua New Guinea, this may be an airline worth looking out for.
The flight was on time and everything was pretty streamlined so all in all, I can’t complain (except about those awful seats) and I’d have no hesitation in flying with them again.
PNG Air’s main competitor is Air Niugini, the national airline of Papua New Guinea. Air Niugini operates many domestic routes, as well as international flights to Australia and various other destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.
View the full trip report HERE.
