|
Sports |
Time to look at PX management
IT was with much concern that I read the recent article by Kevin
Pamba (“Air Niugini is a disgrace to PNG”) about the current
performance of Air Niugini and the comments by former Air
Niugini pilot, Capt James Makop.
Under the leadership and good governance of former chairman
Joseph Tauvasa and my executive team, Air Niugini not only
returned to profitability and financial viability but also
improved substantially in terms of on-time performance,
reliability and customer service during 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Whilst I can sympathise with Capt Makop’s comments about a lack
of a timely replacement of the B767-300ER aircraft when it was
returned to the lessor last month, I reject the comment that the
former management has any responsibility for the current state
of affairs.
At my instigation, Air Niugini established a strategy taskforce
in 2004-05, comprising board members and senior executives, to
address systematically the replacement of the ageing F28 fleet
and to decide whether to replace the B767 at the end of its
lease in last month.
A F28 re-fleeting plan was being implemented well before my
departure and in 2005, I commenced discussions with the lessor
of the B767 about extending the lease of the aircraft or
replacing it in 2007.
My plan was to canvass options for re-leasing the B767 aircraft,
to determine viable alternative aircraft becoming available and
to make a recommendation to the board by July last year,
providing a lead-time for a possible change of aircraft of over
12 months.
I am not aware of the reasons for the delay in acquiring a
replacement aircraft.
However, I am aware of a lot of changes in the management of the
airline over the past 18 months and this instability may have a
bearing on the current performance of the airline.
I understand that since January last year, three general
managers of engineering, the general manager of flight
operations, the general manager of marketing, the senior human
resources manager, the senior planning manager, the IT manager,
the aviation security manager, the purchasing manager, the cargo
manager, senior pilots, senior licensed engineers and other key
personnel, both PNG citizens and expatriates, have left the
airline.
Perhaps it is time for the PNG Government to have a look at the
current leadership of the national airline, to determine why
there has been such an exodus of key personnel and to take
action to ensure that Air Niugini delivers efficiently the
services that the people and businesses of PNG require.
Rod Nelson
Melbourne
 
|
