Bombardier said Friday that Air Niugini, the national airline of Papua New Guinea, placed a firm order for two Q400 NextGen high-speed turboprop airliners, worth about USD$60 million.

The airline also took an option for an additional Q400 NextGen, which would increase the value of the order to about USD$92 million if the option is exercised.

"Air Niugini has been a respected customer since the early 1980s when the airline acquired three 50-seat de Havilland Dash 7 aircraft," Gary Scott, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, said in a statement.

The company said it has now recorded firm orders for 363 Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft and that, as of July 31, 257 had been delivered to customers.