Create competition

THIS is in response to an article in The National in regards to Bulolo MP assisting small businesses in Waria valley subsidising freight costs of trade store goods with the North Coast Aviation in a bid to sustain normal retail prices during the state of emergency period.
The third level airline company North Coast Aviation has been the only one operating in the province for the last 15 to 20 years serving the rural population of Morobe especially Kabwum, Tewai/Siassi and the isolated Waria LLG.
The airfares has risen to K550 per adult passenger travelling from Nadzab to Garaina and the freight charges have also been increased.
Instead of subsidising freight costs for trade store owners, the long-term solution would have been a negotiation with another third level airline company such as Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) to compete with the monopoly of North Coast Aviation.
On behalf of the concerned people of Morobe, I request that the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) investigate NCA and regulate the airfares and freight charges to ensure it isn’t too excessive.

Simeno,
Lae