Air Niugini

The firm has been serving Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands since 1967, contributing over K1.5 billion to the national purse.

Speaking during the ceremony, NBPOL general manager Harry Brock pointed out that Hoskins Airport, and specifically Air Niugini, has played an immense role in the company’s history. Not only has it made it possible for staff to travel but also by transporting the world renowned ‘dami seeds’ to other parts of the country and the world, setting a record quantity of 195 million seeds exited via Hoskins since 1975.

That appeal will go for hearing on June 27 at 9:30am at Waigani.

 Captains Joseph Kumasi, Boris Ageda, Vincent Tongia, Benjamin Lopa, Norman Daniel, and first officers Elijah Yuangi, David Seken and Abel Kanego are challenging their termination from Air Niugini last September.

The Supreme Court on March 23 granted interim relief to the pilots, which stayed their termination as well as eviction from Air Niugini’s accommodation.

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia allowed or granted leave for their appeal to be heard by the full court.

This is to take advantage of PNG’s strategic location in the Pacific Region.

Speaking at the Australia-PNG Business Forum, he said airports in key hubs such as Mt Hagen, Lae and Rabaul need to be upgraded, which will significantly improve volume for the carrier.

“Currently we cannot bring a 737 into these ports. What will it be like if we can bring a 737 into those key hubs on a 24-hour operation?

“We’ll make a significant change to our volume,” Foo said.

CEO Simon Foo announced during the Australia-PNG Business Council Forum in Port Moresby that the initiative will see more jobs, build capacity of aircraft engineers and retain foreign exchange in the country.

He said currently all high maintenance are done overseas.

“Currently we do our Dash 8 in Cairns, Fokker airplanes in Singapore, and the Boeing in China.

“The board will be investing in an MRO facility which will mean that we in Papua New Guinea can service our own planes in the country,” Foo said.

PM O’Neill was in high spirits as he led the PNG delegation on the first ever direct flight from Port Moresby to Townsville, Australia, via Air Niugini, on Friday.

Air Niugini made its inaugural flight direct from Port Moresby into Townsville, and this direct service will provide the opportunity for convenient travel among business and educational opportunities, says the Prime Minister.

“About two years ago I visited Townsville, I made that commitment to try and encourage Air Niugini to fly here,” said the PM.

They were selected to do a two year Masters Degree program in Human Resource Management at the University of Papua New Guinea.

Ms Ritchilyn Barrios who currently works as Manager, Human Resource- Administration and Mr Kilembe Neimani Team Leader – Industrial Relations are grateful for the opportunity.

They said although they had their own plans to enhance their skills and knowledge through further studies, this opportunity was more than what they had expected.

Air Niugini General Manager Dominic Kaumu said that one of the things that Air Niugini has done over the years is developing connectivity within the region.

Kaumu said at the Southwest Pacific Dialogue 2nd Sub-Regional Workshop on connectivity development underway in Port Moresby, that Air Niugini is putting PNG as the lead in linking the Asia Pacific region.

He said they have opened up the north of the Pacific, operating flights to Federal States of Micronesia.

Statistical data from the Department of Transport (DoT) on scheduled international passenger traffic to and from Port Moresby from 2012 to 2016 has been stagnant at an average of about 480,000 passengers per year.

Mumu explained that this is an average of 55 percent seat utilisation, meaning there is excess capacity in the market.

Mumu revealed this at the Southwest Pacific Dialogue (SwPD) 2nd Sub-Regional Workshop on connectivity development underway in Port Moresby.

The flight will be effective March 31, 2017.

The flight will benefit the team both in terms of reduced travel times, and lower team travel costs.

The direct flight will also enable fans in Papua New Guinea to attend Cowboys home matches, and the Hunters games – as well as the fans of the North Queensland teams who want to see their teams play here in Port Moresby.

The NRL round 5 matches between Cowboys and Rabbitohs on 31st March will be held in Townsville, an opportunity for fans in PNG to attend.

The launching will be just in time for the NRL season and will also benefit the Central and North Queensland business communities who can now better access PNG and other Pacific and Asian cities through connecting flights at Jackson’s airport in Port Moresby.

These direct services will operate every Monday and Friday, departing Port Moresby at 09:55am and arriving in Townsville at 11:45am.

The return flight will depart Townsville at 12:30pm and arrives in Port Moresby at 2:20pm.