Three Papua New Guinean landowner companies have acquired three new ATR42-600 aircraft that will be leased to PNG Air under a long-term arrangement linked to Ok Tedi Mining operations.
According to a government statement, the aircraft are being acquired through Ok Tedi Mining shareholder companies Mineral Resources Star Mountain, Mineral Resources Ok Tedi and Mineral Resources CMCA.
The aircraft will be contracted to Ok Tedi Mining and are expected to replace PNG Air’s ageing DHC-8-100 fleet used for fly-in, fly-out charter operations.
Mineral Resources Development Company, or MRDC, Managing Director Augustine Mano said PNG Air would manage and operate the turboprop aircraft under a long-term lease arrangement.
The first ATR42-600 departed ATR’s Toulouse facility on May 20.
Flight tracking data showed aircraft P2-ATT was ferried from Toulouse Francazal to Port Moresby between May 20 and May 26 through multiple stops across Europe and Asia.
PNG Air confirmed in a social media statement that the aircraft is owned by Ok Tedi Mining landowners and would be operated across the airline’s network.
Mano said the new ATR aircraft would replace PNG Air’s Dash 8 aircraft, which currently have an average age of about 40 years.
“This is history because, for the first time, landowners are buying aircraft directly from the factory and leasing them to a major airline company under a long-term arrangement,” Mano said.
He added that additional landowner companies are expected to acquire three more aircraft in the future.
The transaction comes as PNG Air continues expanding its ATR fleet.
The airline recently took delivery of another ATR42-600, aircraft P2-ATU, under its previously announced direct aircraft order program.
PNG Air currently operates a fleet of 16 aircraft, including ATR42-600s, ATR72-600s and DHC-8 aircraft, and plans to expand its ATR fleet to around 18 aircraft.
