Air Niugini management disputes 20 per cent salary cut claim

 THE salary cut for pilots employed by Air Niugini was much less than 20 per cent, the company management says.

The Air Niugini management was responding yesterday to a claim by National Airline Pilots Union treasurer Captain Clark Piokole that pilots employed by the airlines had to take a 20 per cent cut in salary.

Piokole had said the cut was one of the reasons why about 50 pilots had left Air Niugini in a space of six months. The airline’s management had said the company reduced the pilots’ base salaries under the new employment contract which came into effect on Jan 1.

“Despite the reduction, the base salaries offered are still competitive compared to those offered by other airlines within the region and abroad,” the company statement said. “Air Niugini, in line with its efforts to rationalise its operations because of the prevailing economic conditions, among a whole package of corporate initiatives, is reviewing employment terms and conditions of all its employees. 

“For pilots who have renewed their contracts with Air Niugini, the airline respects and recognised their length of service or seniority as pilots in Air Niugini. 

“Those who decided to join Air Niugini after Jan 1 will be on a totally new salary scale. There have been interest from overseas pilots to join Air Niugini.”