Acting PM tells Air Niugini to shape up

ACTING Prime Minister Leo Dion is calling on Air Niugini to address its ongoing problems.
Dion, who is inter-government relations minister, made the call yesterday following frustrations expressed by the travelling public during Christmas and New Year.
He expressed the government’s grave concern at the ongoing “appalling status” of the service provided by Air Niugini that the public had to put up with every festive season.
“The public deserves the best and cannot continue to accept the excuse from Air Niugini about congestion during the peak period when the government continues to inject more funds towards the re-fleeting programme and general operations as a state enterprise.”
Dion said while he appreciated that safety could not be compromised, the problems being faced by the airline must be addressed jointly by its management and the National Airports Corporation.
He said he would raise the matter with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and relevant ministers in cabinet, with a view to apply improvements in the level of service being provided in all centres that the airline operated in.
Dion was critical of the airline management not being available to see the shocking condition of the services provided, especially at the Jackson International Airport during the peak period.
“There is no way that the country can continue to accept excuses for the low level of performance of state entities such as Air Niugini,” he said.