Air Niugini

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.

In response to customer feedback about their weekly Tuesday online airfare promotions, Air Niugini advised the travelling public the sale starts at 9am each Tuesday, but special fares are only available for those dates listed in the “For travel between”.

“If you look at dates outside of this date range, you will not find these special airfares,” ANG explained.

In winning, Paradise beat magazines from many of the region’s major airlines, including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Tiger Air and Fiji Airways.

The World Travel Awards, established in 1993, celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. They are recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.

It is the first time Papua New Guinea’s national airline has won a World Travel Award.

The HA program consists of four pillars that aim to reduce costs, generate more revenue, build a stronger and happier workforce and excel in customer offerings.

Five staff from various departments within the airline were awarded on Friday, 6th November for contributing their best ideas for the months of June, July and August.

Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Alabaster, congratulated the winners on their achievement and encouraged all staff members to continue contributing ideas to the program.

With the peak period approaching, passengers, especially those traveling in from the border town of Vanimo as well as Wewak, Madang and Lae, have been warned not to carry firecrackers or fireworks;

• Onboard the aircraft
• Checked baggage
• Consigned as cargo

“Firecrackers are dangerous goods and forbidden for carriage in a passenger or cargo aircraft as per Civil Aviation Act (2000),” stated the airline.

“Offenders can be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 7 years.

For most of the last sixteen months, the runway at Mount Hagen has been restricted to Dash-8 turboprop aircraft to allow National Airports Corporation (NAC) to complete maintenance and upgrading work on the runway and taxiways at Kagamuga airport. This work is now complete.