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Business |
PX cuts airfares
Big discounts on
domestic and international rates
By BAEAU TAI
AIR Niugini Ltd has announced a new range of discounted airfares
for its domestic and international flights to boost tourism in the
country.
The new fares under its domestic package for this year will reduce
its overall average domestic fare by 8% to 12%.
The new domestic fares are on sale effective today for travel on
or after Feb 1.
International airfares will be subject to the approval of the
relevant Government authorities.
The four leisure fares available are “flexi excursion”, “flexi
saver”, “super saver” and the “paradise wantok”.
These airfares will have 15%, 30%, 45% and 60% discounts,
respectively, from the applicable full economy fares.
Concurrent with the new domestic fares package, Air Niugini’s
international fares from Port Moresby to Singapore, Manila and
Japan also have been further reduced up to 30% of the existing
promotional fares in a
concerted effort to stimulate tourism growth from the overseas
markets to PNG.
In some instances, new fares offer 40% to 50% less than the
previous lowest discounted fares offered by the national airline.
In a joint announcement yesterday, Air Niugini board chairman Jim
Tjoeng and chief executive Wasantha Kumarasiri said the airline
made the decision following a total revision of its entire
domestic fare structure and extensive financial reviews.
“These new range of domestic discounted fares which will be
promoted as the ‘Air Niugini leisure fares’ offer huge savings for
the travelling public
offering a huge 60%
discount of the full economy fare,” Mr Kumarasiri said.
“The new fare package is aimed at stimulating domestic tourism
growth within PNG and will further boost international tourism
into to PNG,” he said.
“The new airfare package for this year is offered to increase
domestic travel volume and make the airfares more attractive and
affordable to the average income earner,” Mr Kumarasiri said.
Mr Tjoeng said that following evaluation of the domestic market
needs, Air Niugini decided to make the discounted fares “more
flexible and combinable so that they are customer-friendly and
easily accessible” to the traveling public to purchase through its
sales offices, travel agents and Air Niugini’s “virtual sales
office” internet, www.airniugini.com.pg
“As with all special fares, they are capacity-controlled and there
are certain terms and conditions attached to the discounted fares.
“However, in general, there will be a lot more flexibility thus
allowing the customer to plan an itinerary without too many
restrictions,” he said.
“Air Niugini has taken this bold decision with a huge confidence
in the travelling public to increase the volume of domestic travel
and encourage everyone to take full advantage of these great
savings that are now available,” Mr Tjoeng said.
The support of the travelling public by increasing their travel
will enable the airline to continue to offer these competitive
airfares.
Mr Tjoeng said since the launch of Air Niugini’s super saver fares
between Australia and Port Moresby last June, there has been
significant growth in passenger numbers.
“The airline is confident to see comparable increase in passenger
volume from its Asian destinations following the revised
international fare structure in place,” he said.
 
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