PNG Air

“This was a first for the airline and a first for the Island as we have to date served the Losuia using the Dash 8 aircraft,” said Paul Abbot, PNG Air Acting Chief Executive Officer. “Under the command of Captain Kalai Hungrabos and First Officer Eroli Yasi, the new ATR made its inaugural service to Losuia where the flight was greeted with a traditional welcome by the people.

“The increased capacity of the ATR will provide more opportunities for people to be able to travel to the mainland without having to risk the dangers associated with travelling by boat.

CPNG chairperson, Helen Macindoe, made the statement after the announcement of the sponsorship agreement with the airline on Wednesday.

The partnership between Cricket PNG and PNG Air basically means that more people will be able to play.

CPNG chairperson, Helen Macindoe, said this makes the building of 48 wickets around the country more exciting.

“And one of our objectives is to lift the profile of cricket in the country,” she said. “And the partnership with PNG Air will certainly help that.

During the announcement today, PNG Air sales and marketing manager, Linda Honey, said it was important for the airline to engage and help grow athletes within the country.

The announcement was made at the PNG Air head office at Seven-Mile, Port Moresby, where Honey said the airline will be transporting athletes from the outside provinces to Port Moresby, and vice versa.

She said they anticipate moving around 200,000 young adults to engage and grow in the sport of cricket.

In terms of the payment of airfares, Honey stated it would predominantly be free-of-charge.

The agreement will see PNG Fashion Week move from the national's capital, Port Moresby, firstly, into the Morobe Region with the Lae Fashion Week leg taking place in October 2018.

PNG Fashion Week said: “This is a landmark deal because it goes beyond traditional sponsorship. Under the agreement, which is the first-of-its-kind, PNG Air will become the official airline of all PNG Fashion Week events in 2018, starting in Lae in October.”

Under the command of Captain Chris Tabuchi and First Officer Marie Auka, the aircraft departed Port Moresby and arrived in Sydney with fuel stops in Cairns and Roma.

After loading the cargo of machinery parts, the aircraft returned to Cairns where a fresh crew comprising Captain Jacqueline Naing and Captain Wayne Waliman took control for the final leg of the flight to Lihir Island.

“The long haul flight was for a customer who required the urgent delivery of critical parts to keep its operation running,” said Paul Abbot Chief Commercial Officer of PNG Air.  

Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors, Murray Woo, said “Muralee believes that after more than 5 years in the role and with rebranding and the initial stage of the re-fleeting program successfully completed, it is time for him to move on, and to allow someone with a new perspective and a different set of ideas to come in and take the Company through the next stage of its development”.Mr Siva was appointed as CEO in November 2012, and has overseen a great deal of change in the airline.  Under his watch, the airline has implemented a strategy of focussing more on regular passenger tra

“We are a relatively small company but our staff feel strongly that we also need to play our part and this is one way that we can help.“PNG Air is doing our best to support the relief operation and has made our Dash 8 freighter available at no charge to assist with moving these desperately needed supplies to the people in need.

“With the support of NAC we have opened the Connections Lounges in Mt Hagen and Lae primarily to cater for our corporate and frequent travelers,” said Paul Abbot, Chief Commercial Officer PNG Air.

“The Connection Lounge offers light refreshments in a quiet comfortable environment for our travellers prior to boarding their flight. It’s an ideal place to relax, finish off some last minute work or catch up with fellow travellers.

“Initially the lounges are by invite only while we develop the operating procedures required to fully support our valued customers.

PNG Air CEO, Muralee Siva, announced this during the company’s annual general meeting.

He said the aerodrome upgrades that are currently being done are disruptive and limit the operations they can carry out.

“For example, the Goroka airport upgrade that is still not completed limits our ability to take the ATRs to that port, with a negative impact on the bottom-line.”

Siva added: “We have internet reception problems in most of the ports, which in turn affects our on-time performance.

PNG Air board chairman, Murray Woo, said at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday that following a financially challenging year in 2016, the airline is now positioned strongly to achieve improved returns.