Air Niugini makes first flight under agreement

AIR Niugini’s inaugural flight from Cairns to Hong Kong via Port Moresby yesterday departed with 8.5 tonnes of live fish, fresh produce and aquarium coral on board.
The Boeing 767 aircraft is used for two weekly flights on the route operated by Air Niugini after the announcement with Australia’s Queensland government last week.
The flights are integral to the A$75 million (K171.58million) export industry to the Cairns region which includes local fresh produce and seafood; supporting about 180 jobs in Far North Queensland.
Two bins of live fish, four and a half tonnes of fresh Queensland pumpkins, one tonne of live aquarium coral and rockmelons are among the cargo on the first flight.
Air Niugini managing director Alan Milne said the opportunity was mutually beneficial to the airline as it was for the people of Far North Queensland,” Milne said.
“Air Niugini was the first international airline to operate out of Cairns Airport 44 years ago.
“Today’s flight is equally significant.
“You only have to look at all that local produce being loaded onto the plane to acknowledge how important this service is for the people of Far North Queensland.
“And it’s great to be working with the state government to provide this service which in turn is also beneficial to Air Niugini in terms of revenue opportunity from both cargo and passengers.”
Cairns Airport’s chief executive Norris Carter said Cairns Airport was delighted to see the seamless transition of freight continue through Air Niugini.
“One in every five dollars of Australia’s imports and exports travel via airports and Cairns Airport is well positioned to provide a direct gateway for freight from across the Far North,” Carter said. Milne said the new flight path offered competitively priced seats and shorter flight times for passengers to some parts of the Asia-Pacific region.
“It’s also a great opportunity for tourists to use Port Moresby as a gateway to some of the beautiful domestic destinations in Papua New Guinea as well as our network of destinations in Asia and the Pacific,” Milne said.
Air Niugini will be flying twice a week from Cairns to Hong Kong, via Port Moresby.