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Air Niugini soon to launch new services to Fiji, Cairns

AIR Niugini will soon begin its new services to Fiji and Cairns.
The Fiji service will start March 23 and the direct seasonal service between Cairns, Australia and Tokua, Rabaul will start from April.
In announcing the new services yesterday, chairman Jim Tjoeng and chief executive Wasantha Kumarasiri said Air Niugini has achieved yet another milestone with its initiative to expand the airline’s network and access to markets.
The flights to Nadi will operate via Honiara in both directions on a twice- weekly basis on Friday and Sunday from Port Moresby to Nadi and returning on Saturday and Monday.
Air Niugini will operate a two-class services on its 100-seat Fokker 100 aircraft including eight business class seats on the route.
“The flight schedule provides great opportunities for tourism to PNG and business and leisure travel to Fiji as well as alternative and convenient options for travel via Nadi to the US, New Zealand and other Pacific Island destinations,” Mr Tjoeng said.
The scheduling of flights will also provide excellent connections to and from Air Niugini’s Singapore and Tokyo flights in both directions, thus enhancing travel options for Pacific Islands’ residents.
An added convenience for residents of PNG and Fiji travelling to either country is that they are able to have their visitor’s visa processed on arrival.
Mr Kumarasiri said the recent appointment of discount flight centre as the airline’s general sales agent in Fiji further demonstrates the airline’s commitment to ensuring online services to the travelling public.
As for the Tokua - Cairns service, the airline will operate two flights in a week during April and September to stimulate tourism from the popular North Queensland city of Cairns to ENB and other neighbouring provinces in the New Guinea Islands region.
“The seasonal direct flights will provide an opportunity to further increase visitors to Rabaul and the other tourist destinations such as New Ireland which is becoming very popular for surfing, Buka with its World War II relics, and Walindi Plantation Resort in West New Britain province, best known for its pristine waters and rich marine life,” Mr Kumarasiri said.
The Tokua-Cairns flights would operate a two-class service on its 96-seat Fokker 100 aircraft on the route and Air Niugini is confident the seasonal service would provide travel opportunities for Australian tourists to access the rich tourism products available in ENB.