Air traffic expected to grow

The Air Traffic within the Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at a rate of 6-8 per cent in the next 10-15 years, an official says.
Papua New Guinea Air Services Ltd, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Captain Ted Pakii said this was the highest growth compared to any other region around the globe.
“We have seen evidence of this growth in the past few years.”
He said since PNG Air Services Ltd was the sole provider of safety in Papua New Guinea’s air space, it has been a challenge to manage the blind spots.
“PNG Air Services in the past used old technologies but I am happy to say that our comprehensive modernisation programme is nearing completion, and will address most, if not all, of these challenges.
“Most of our modernisation projects will be completed by the end of this year and by 2019, the services that PNGASL provides will be on par with the best in the region and beyond.
“Using satellite-based technology, we expect full coverage of our entire airspace,” he said.
He said countries payed to use Papua New Guinea’s air space and the customers were the airlines, both domestic and international.
“They pay the agreed fees for the services provided for them within this airspace.”
He said fees were based on an international formula which was founded on cost recovery model.
“This is what keeps our operations going in terms of our recurrent budget.
“We have 20 major international airline customers from 15 different countries who fly through our airspace on a daily basis.
“We also have our domestic airlines who use the same airspace,” he said.
He said the Papua New Guinea Air Services Ltd was responsible for 1.6 million square kilometres of airspace, extending from sea level to an altitude of 60,000 feet and PNGASL made sure the highways in the sky were safe.