Air Niugini

Witnessing the occasion today was local MP Kerenga Kua and Air Niugini’s Executive manager for Flights operations Captain Samiu Taufa alongside Human Resource General Manager Rei Logona.

Kua said the agreement was an important exercise for his district as it encourages young people to have bigger dreams and visions in their lives.

He said the partnership with Air Niugini to send  Daniel Jack, 26 to the flying school was to inspire younger children in the district to aspire and do more and achieve their dreams.

Air Niugini in support of the event will provide kind assistance comprising of air travel discounts and other promotional activities.

Meanwhile, Telikom PNG being the leading supporter of football in PNG will provide facilities and backing FIFA for the broadcasting of the competition, which will see the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup reach over 200 million people around the world.

As a leading telecommunication company, Telikom PNG will provide phone lines and internet services for the four stadiums hosting matches throughout the three-week tournament.

Minister Pruaitch made this comment yesterday after the launch of the Asian Development Bank Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI) report titled; Finding Balance 2016 Report on Performance of State-owned Enterprises in Pacific Island countries.

“The Government is borrowing so much to fund State-Owned Enterprises, and we need a policy on dividends payment,” he said.

The Airline was responding to claims that the flights were caused by shortage of pilot with the company.

“Our flight delays over the weekend were mainly due to bad weather and not pilot issue,” An Air Niugini employee who declined to be named said. 

“Two aircraft were not able to get out of Mt Hagen on Saturday as a result of bad weather. This has affected the rest of the flights (been affected) during the weekend.

“However, all the flights are now back too normal.”

Air Niugini will commence weekly air services twice between Port Moresby and FSM, starting on December 3.

The inaugural and test flight was done last week where the state-owned airline management and board received the Foreign Air Carrier Permit from FSM President Peter Christian.

“So that the financial risks associated with a new international service can be managed, Air Niugini has asked the FSM Government to share the risk involved in establishing this new air service,” Air Niugini chairman Sir Frederick Reiher said.   

State owned airline, Air Niugini has spread its wings to the Federated States of Micronesia with an inaugural flight last week.  

Air Niugini chairman Sir Frederick Reiher, led a delegation comprising director Sir Noel Levi, CEO Simon Foo and general manager commercials Dominic Kaumu to Pohnpei for discussions with the FSM Government and the Chamber of Commerce during its inaugural flight.

To test the market, three special flights have been planned to operate to FSM before the scheduled passenger services commence.

The first of the three special flights operated on Thursday, Sept 1, from Port Moresby to Chuuk and later Pohnpei before returning to Port Moresby.

It took 2 hours and 40 minutes to reach Chuuk and an hour across to Pohnpei before coming back to Pom.

This morning, Air Niugini held a naming ceremony, unveiling the name of one of its Fokker 70 aircrafts as “Alotau”.

Chairman of Air Niugini Limited, Sir Frederick Reiher, says these airplanes form a central component of the major re-fleeting and fleet upgrade program that Air Niugini is undertaking.

“When we made decisions on the fleet upgrading program, the number one priority was to service the travel needs of the eight million people of our nation,” Reiher says.

Air Niugini chairman Sir Frederick Reiher in his speech during the naming ceremony of its fourth Fokker 70 aircraft "Alotau" said the company will continue to implement the programme and help young Papua New Guineans achieved their dreams through the programme.

"Since the first pilot cadet program in 1988 Air Niugini has fully funded the training of 80 national pilots – men and women who today serve as flight crew in all our aircraft, from Dash-8s to Boeing 767s. Our fully trained crew now include five young women pilots."

Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer, Mr Simon Foo made the announcement this afternoon following a meeting last week with FSM’s Assistant Secretary for Civil Aviation, Mr Massey Halbert.

Mr Foo said Air Niugini will start initially with three special flights to Chuuk and Pohnpei , two of the four states in FSM. These flights are scheduled to operate on September 01st,  07th and 10th, which coincides with a meeting of Pacific Island leaders in FSM.