Continue airport upgrades, govt told

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Reports by MARK HAIHUIE
AIR Niugini has urged the Government to continue its programme of upgrading airports around the country to allow the national airline to further improve its services.
Board chairman Sir Frederick Reiher was at Tokua airport last Friday for the official naming of the airline’s Fokker-100 aircraft ‘Rabaul’.
“The current aviation infrastructure in Papua New Guinea remains an impediment to tourism development, to business and industry and commuters generally,” he said.
“Airport upgrades will help Air Niugini improve service and efficiency which will in turn keep downward pressure on airfares and freight costs.” He said the airline’s capacity to continue supporting smaller and more remote routes was dependent on improving its overall efficiency.
“That means we must acquire more efficient aircraft such as the Fokker-70s and Boeing 737 MAXs which are on order,” Sir Frederick said.
“But it also means that we need the support of the national and provincial governments in a couple of key areas.”
He called on the National Airport Corporation to provide night-flying capability at airports which is “vital to our efficient operations and to meeting passenger demands”.
“Only a handful of airports have night flying capability,” he said.
“This limits Air Niugini’s ability to gain maximum efficient utilisation of its aircraft fleet.”
Sir Frederick also noted the urgent need for major airports to be upgraded to enable Boeing 737 flights on a full-day basis, in all-weather conditions.
“The demand from passengers requires the use of larger capacity aircraft which will in turn reduce airfares and freight costs,” he said.
Air Niugini plans to increase connecting passengers between Rabaul through Port Moresby and other international destinations.

Air Niugini also plans to increase flights to Honiara.