Air Niugini puts passengers’ safety first: Duma

Air Niugini currently has aircraft problems but will not compromise the safety of its passengers, Public Enterprise and State Investment Minister William Duma told Parliament yesterday.
East Sepik Governor Allan Bird said seven Air Niugini aircraft were “permanently parked at the old terminal”, and on Wednesday, a flight from Madang to Port Moresby was forced to land at Nadzab.
“I suspect there are some serious issues with Air Niugini, hence, my concern for the entire travelling public and as a representative of the shareholders,” he said.
Bird asked Duma to look into “serious management issues” at Air Niugini with engineers and pilots leaving en masse.
“Could the minister assure the public at Air Niugini is still a safe airline for us to use, given the serious management issues that are currently at play?” Bird asked.
Duma said most of the issues raised by Bird “exist”.
“In terms of the aircraft that are parked at the tarmac, those aircraft have technical problems, which are believed to be associated with locating and securing spare parts which fit the aircraft that Air Niugini uses,” he said.
“Some relate to leasing arrangements that Air Niugini has with one or two aircraft-leasing companies. Regardless of whatever happens, the safety of our passengers is paramount.
“Air Niugini is one of the few airlines in the world whose safety record is second to none.
“We are not going to, under any circumstances, compromise that. That is why, even if we have to go through the pain of flight cancellations and delays, the safety of the passengers is paramount.”