Air Niugini

On Friday 18^th June, the airline successfully completed a two-week training course for 12 new travel consultants. 

The training covered mainly reservations and ticketing processes using the Sabre Reservations system that is used by many other airlines around the world.

The travel consultants came from Air Niugini sales offices in Goroka, Hoskins, Madang, Kavieng and Port Moresby.

Apart from that, the airline says it continues to implement COVID safe policies for all travellers, to ensure that their travel is safe.

“This includes completion of a NDOH Health Declaration Form for presentation on arrival at your destination, the wearing of facemasks on board aircraft and within airport facilities, use of hand sanitiser and social distancing wherever appropriate and practical,” stated ANG.

The three days training carried out last week, March 23rd to 25th at the Air Niugini Aviation Training Centre at 7Mile in Port Moresby, is tailored for NMSA Captains and Chief Engineers.

This is first IMDG Code training for 2021 carried out by Air Niugini Non-Technical Training Instructor, Martin Tugano. Four more are planned throughout the year.

The training covered general provision for Dangerous Goods transported by Sea, and the classifying, identifying, packing, marking, labeling/placarding and shipping documentation of Dangerous Goods.

The first ever Boeing 737 service will touch down in Gurney at 1120am on Friday 26^th February. Thereafter, the B737 aircraft will become a regular sight at Gurney Airport, with three weekly services from 28^th March on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Fokker jet aircraft will continue to service Alotau on other days of the week.

Chief executive officer, Bruce Alabaster, said using the B737 to Alotau will allow the Fokker jet aircraft that currently service the route to be used to increase capacity elsewhere.

This follows continuous reports that some of their heavily discounted tickets are being resold to the public.

“Customers suspected of purchasing such tickets will have their bookings and tickets cancelled without notice and will be denied boarding,” said the airline.

“Therefore they will lose the money they have paid to the person originally making the booking. They also risk legal action.

These new restrictions include a greater than 60 percent reduction in the number of passengers allowed to be uplifted on Air Niugini flights to Australia, with effect from 15^th January.

“Consequently, and as previously advised, based on the number of passengers already booked, Air Niugini has already had to close all Port Moresby to Brisbane and Cairns flights for any additional ticket sales from 15^th January out to 28^th February,” stated the national carrier.

Air Niugini says this is because the runway lengths at Madang and Wewak airports will be temporarily shortened by the National Airports Corporation (NAC) to allow for runway maintenance and upgrading works at both airports.

The reduced runway length at Madang commences this month, and at Wewak from March. These runway works at both airports are expected to last until November, depending on weather conditions.

In a statement, Air Niugini said: “All passengers travelling to Australia will at some point be required to provide evidence of a negative PCR test at time of check-in.

“At present, this is not yet a requirement but the Australian government will advise when this will come into effect, and Air Niugini will provide this information as soon as we are notified.  

The airline will be operating its first Boeing 737 commercial flight into Kagamuga airport, Mount Hagen commencing Monday 14^th December following a recent successful test flight from Port Moresby to Hagen and back.

The B737 aircraft will become a regular sight at Mount Hagen thereafter.

Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Alabaster, said by using the B737 to Mount Hagen, this will allow the Fokker jet aircraft that currently service the route to be used to increase capacity elsewhere during the peak period.

Air Niugini said due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian government is limiting the number of passengers on each aircraft arriving into Brisbane

 This is to manage the flow of arriving passengers into the available quarantine facilities.

As a result of these measures, there are virtually no seats remaining on any flights on the given dates.  

“Flights coming from Brisbane to Port Moresby are not restricted,” stated ANG.