Air Niugini praises expanded service

AIR Niugini has welcomed an agreement with the Queensland government on an expanded service between Cairns and Hong Kong via Port Moresby from Oct 30.
Managing director Alan Milne announced this following a meeting with partners involved in the proposed service in Cairns on Friday.
The partners are the Queensland government, Cairns tourism industry, Cairns airport authority and Qantas.
“This is a great opportunity for freight shippers and passengers alike and we are keen to make it work,” Milne said.
“There is agricultural produce and fish trade which we can lift out of Cairns to Hong Kong via Port Moresby using our 767 aircraft.
“We know this is a significant service for the people of Far North Queensland and it’s now a significant service for Air Niugini and Papua New Guinea as we continue to grow our airline and continue to explore new opportunities.
“It’s also a great opportunity for people flying through Port Moresby to explore Air Niugini’s other destinations in Asia, the Pacific and destinations within the country.
“I must say, PNG has some of the most untapped and beautiful tourism potentials I have ever seen.”
Air Niugini has been flying to Cairns for 44 years.
Queensland state member for Cairns Michael Healy said the twice weekly Air Niugini passenger/freight service supplemented by a once a week Qantas freighter service best met the needs of local exporters to maintain immediate access to the lucrative Asian markets.