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By FRANK ASAELI
AIR Niugini’s flight disruptions are to continue for sometime with
its management confirming yesterday it did not have enough aircraft to
back its operations.
The airline’s lack of aircraft was exposed when its newly leased
B767-300 aircraft from Viva Macau was struck with a technical problem
and became unserviceable last Friday.
The company said the B767-300, on a wet lease from Viva Macau, sustained
damage to the thrust reverser system and engine cowling after landing at
Brisbane Airport last Friday.
Viva Macau explained that the mechanic failure developed after a normal
landing by flight PX003 with 219 passengers on board.
It said at no time was the aircraft in danger and passengers disembarked
normally.
Air Niugini had to divert one of its Fokker 100 aircraft and charter
another F100 from Alliance airline to uplift passengers from Brisbane to
Port Moresby and from Port Moresby to Brisbane that day. It also
chartered a Boeing 737 from OZ Jet.
But the airline is now considering diverting a F100 from its domestic
operations to cover the Port Moresby-Brisbane route after the Alliance
F100 was grounded because of technical defect.
This would cause further disruption and downgrading of flights on the
domestic routes, but the Air Niugini management apologised to the
travelling public and asked for its understanding.
The airline said since the exit of two Airbus A310 aircrafts five years
ago, it had been operating one wide body aircraft for its international
service and that has left them vulnerable, causing many disruptions over
the period due to lack of redundancy.
Chief executive officer Wasantha Kumarasiri said yesterday the airline
has engaged a Boeing 757 from a company known as Loftleinder Icelandic
of Iceland, and was expecting its delivery over the next few weeks.
He said the management was working tirelessly to return to schedule
service.
Mr Kumarasiri said part of the problem was because there had been a 17%
growth in the domestic passenger sector, with 80% to 90% loading on each
flight, causing some of the disruptions.
Meanwhile, Member for Alotau and Culture and Tourism Minister Charles
Abel said he was concerned with Air Niugini’s operations, which was
affecting the tourism industry.
Mr Abel said last Saturday that continued flight delays and rescheduling
was not good as tourists may not want to come to PNG.
The Minister said it is about time the government looked into the issue
and provide another Airlines company to compete with Air Niugini.
He said Air Niugini should be partially privatised and there should be
competition in the airlines industry.
A passenger on the Brisbane to Port Moresby flight Napoleon Liosi said
the cancellation and disruption of flights were becoming regular and he
described this as a “national disgrace”.
Mr Liosi said this showed poor management and planning on the part of
Air Niugini and called for a major shake-up.
 
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