By JUNITA SOL GOMA
THE K35 hike in airfares for Air Nuigini customers will not be implemented immediately, chief executive officer Wasantha Kumarasiri said in a statement.
But he said the hike was necessary in the wake of the latest fuel price increases.
He did not specify when the airfare increases was likely to be implemented but said “until further notice”.
Customers, meanwhile, reacted angrily to the latest airfare increase.
Air Niugini customer Leah Ongugo told The National that “any rise in Air Niugini fares should commensurate improvements in its services”.
“Air Niugini should not raise any fares until this ‘peak period’ is over,” she said.
Meanwhile, Air Niugini travellers are disgusted over the numerous flight delays over the festive season with many expressing frustrations that the delays had ruined their Christmas plans.
Many passengers were off-loaded from scheduled aircraft and placed on waiting lists that spanned more than three days and counting.
One frustrated passenger said she was off-loaded from a Goroka flight on Thursday and put on waiting list.
She had been waiting since last Sunday when The National caught up with her at the airport.
“The airline has not done anything to help me and my family,” she said. “We’ve been sleeping here at the terminal and waiting with no idea of when we would make it home.”
She was of the opinion that the PNG Government should move to open up the skies to competition, a sentiment that many passengers that The National spoke to, shared.