Air Niugini begins service to Townsville

By CHARLES MOI
THE inaugural flight by Air Niugini from Port Moresby to Townsville on Friday was the result of 12 months of hard work and planning, according to the airline’s chief executive officer Simon Foo.
The direct service to Townsville brings the number of Air Niugini’s non-stop flights to Australia to four.
The others are to Brisbane, Sydney and Cairns.
“Townsville has a sister relationship with Port Moresby, the capital of PNG,” Foo said.
“The company decided a few years ago to develop Port Moresby as a centre of the Pacific, connecting the Asian countries through our country into the Pacific.
“Townsville is one of those that were looking at because they have limited air services into Asian countries and the Pacific. There is an opportunity there for them to come through our country.”
Foo said the Townsville flights would supplement what Air Niugini had been doing internationally.
“Cairns is still a very big route for us because it was one of the first routes for Air Niugini in 1970s,” Foo said.
“We are also looking at China and will be expecting to make an announcement on that in the next couple of months.
“PNG singed a bilateral (agreement) with China to allow air services to operate between our countries.”
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said Air Niugini’s direct service to Townsville provided opportunities for business, education, tourism and re-connecting with families and friends.
“We want this airline service to not just survive (but also) to thrive and grow because Townsville is the capital of North Queensland,” Hill said.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill led the delegation to Townsville which included Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tobias Kulang, Air Niugini chairman Sir Frederick Reiher and Foo.
The delegation visited various sites in Townsville including the Youth with a Mission office, the James Cook University and Palm Island, located 57 km north of Townsville.