Link PNG

The decision to suspend flights was made following recent law and order issues in the area.

There have been recent reports of a major clash between police and locals following the killing of a police officer this week.

The airline said passengers who have been ticketed to travel are to change their travel to the next available flight without penalties.

Link PNG normally operates three weekly flights to Tari every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

This will continue through the peak travel period, following National Airports Corporation’s advice that the completion of runway works at Lae (Nadzab) and Kavieng airports have been delayed into 2022.

Kavieng is expected to return to Fokker jet operations around the third week of January, instead of this month, whilst jet services to Nadzab are expected to resume in April 2022, instead of January.

Air Niugini has apologized for the inconvenience caused to the travelling public during the peak travel season, however says safety of operations remains its primary concern.

In a statement released today, the airline said: “The presence of loose gravel material poses safety hazard and risk to our aircraft and passengers therefore, in the interest of safety, the airline has taken this step to suspend operations until the airport operator (National Airports Corporation) resolves the issue. 

“Link PNG looks forward to resuming services once there is assurance that the matter has been resolved and it can operate safely into Kavieng airport.

Flight PX 990 arrived to a small but significant ceremony at Wapenamanda airport, witnessed by Enga Governor, Sir Peter Ipatas, Link PNG General Manager Alex Kia and staff.

Flights to Wapenamanda were suspended in September 2019 to allow upgrades to be carried out to the runway by the National Airports Corporation (NAC).

General Manager, Link PNG Alex Kia acknowledged Governor Ipatas and his provincial government for their continuous support towards Link PNG.

The subsidiary of Air Niugini suspended services to Wapenamanda in September 2019 to allow for major upgrade works to the runway by National Airports Corporation (NAC).

“These runway upgrade works have now been completed and Link PNG is pleased to be able to restore services to Wapenamanda and the surrounding communities once again,” stated the airline.

Link PNG will be operating three weekly direct flights between Port Moresby and Wapenamanda, every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, using Dash-8 aircraft.

Both PNG Air and Link PNG believe ICCC approval of this will benefit Papua New Guineans and travellers.

Link PNG chairman, Sir Kostas Constantinou, and PNG Air chairman, Augustine Mano, advised that the proposed joint venture between Link PNG and MRDC is based on PNG Air remaining as an independent airline, setting its own airfares and selling its own tickets separately from Air Niugini. 

The MOU sets the platform for a partnership arrangement between Link PNG and the landowner company to operate regular charter flights into Komo Airfield.

Link PNG acting general manager, Alex Kia, said the national airline is proud of the step taken towards the partnership arrangement, and is confident this partnership with one of the biggest landowner companies (LANCOS) in the country will contribute to nation building as the country journeys through an uncertain period brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The second Q402 adds significant capabilities to the Link PNG operation following the arrival of the first Q402 aircraft in January 2020.

This aircraft has almost 50 percent more passenger capacity than Link PNG’s present Dash 8’s and operates at near jet speeds. 

It is also capable of operating into many of the smaller airports that are unable to handle the Fokker jets.

The Q400 will be utilised mostly on the Rabaul sector during the peak period.

These new flights will connect Tufi with both Port Moresby and Popondetta.

The new service links the surrounding communities of Tufi to the capital of Northern – Popondetta – and Port Moresby, aiding the movement of public servants and bringing in much needed necessities in terms of health, education and infrastructure materials to drive the government’s agenda on delivery of services to the wider rural community.

The new service links Mount Hagen, an important transport and economic hub for the Highlands region, with the communities and economic developments centred around Kiunga, as well as with Port Moresby, aiding the movement of much needed necessities in terms of health, education and infrastructure materials to drive the governments’ agenda on economic growth and delivery of services to the wider rural communities.