Air Niugini (PX, Port Moresby) has cancelled its order for two B787-8s, according to Boeing orders and deliveries data for January 2026. The move leaves the state-owned carrier without a confirmed replacement for its B767-300ER fleet, which is scheduled to exit service this year.

Both B767s are due to be returned to lessors in 2026 upon lease expiry. The B787s had been intended to directly replace these aircraft and open new routes to Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

The cancellation aligns with earlier caution expressed by the airline's board. In a January 2025 press release detailing the carrier's refleeting programme, chairman Karl Yalo noted that while the government had previously approved the purchase, "changing circumstances" had compelled the airline to review the agreement.

However, Air Niugini then chief executive Gary Seddon told ch-aviation in May 2025 that the commitment remained "intact" and was central to the carrier's long-term international strategy, although he acknowledged the delivery timeline had slipped to late 2027. Seddon said at the time that the airline was "actively considering bridging lift capacity options" to ensure operational continuity.

ch-aviation data shows that Air Niugini operates a passenger fleet comprising two A220-300s, three B737-800s, two B767-300ERs, eleven Dash 8 turboprops, five F100s, and four F70s. It has remaining commitments for eight A220-100s directly from Airbus Canada.

Leadership change

Meanwhile, Air Niugini announced on February 16 that Alan Milne would return as CEO, replacing officer-in-charge Samiu Taufa, who has led the airline for the past six months after the departure of Seddon.

Milne, who previously led Air Niugini from 2018 to 2020, joins from Skytrans (2025), where he served as chief executive until 2025. He is also the owner of East Air (Australia), having acquired the entity from Townsville Airlines in 2025.

"In the short term, Mr. Milne and his team will be focused on maintaining and enhancing operations and profitability," Yalo said. "In the medium term, we will prepare Air Niugini for initial partial privatisation at the right time."