South Australia-based National Jet Systems (NJS) has begun to fly a wet-leased British Aerospace RJ70 regional aircraft to Papua New Guinea for flag carrier Air Niugini.
The deal, initially set up for four months, replaces a Fokker F28, recently damaged when an undercarriage failed during a landing roll-out. It is likely to be the first of a series of leases as Air Niugini's fleet ages and its funds diminish.
Qantas' Queensland regional carrier, Sunstate Airlines, has bought Air Niugini's two de Havilland Canada Dash 8-200s, leasing them back indefinitely while retaining the option eventually to bring them into service as its own Shorts 330/360s are retired. The two aircraft are only about 18 months old.
NJS has also signed a lease to fly its first turboprop for Qantas Airlink, operating a Dash 8 between Alice Springs and Yulara, the tourism destination at Ayers Rock. NJS already operates regional jets on Qantas Airlink's behalf.
Source: Flight International
