Dion hails Air Niugini’s Cairns flights

 By ELIZABETH VUVU

DEPUTY Prime Minister Leo Dion has commended Air Niugini and the East New Britain Chamber of Commerce for their initiative to introduce weekly flights between Kokopo (Tokua) and Cairns, Australia.

Dion, who is the regional MP and former ENB governor, said this was the long term plan for the provincial government when it inaugurated its economic development plan in 2003 to fully exploit tourism as one of the key drivers of the provincial economy. 

“The provincial government underwrites this route also when we partnered with Air Niugini a few years back to operate direct flights between Tokua, Cairns and Honiara. This was discontinued due to immigration facility requirements,” he said.

The direct flights, which operate on Mondays and Fridays, started on Monday.

Dion also urged Air Niugini to consider direct international flights to other potential tourist destinations such as Gurney, Nadzab, Kagamuga, Madang and Manus to promote tourism.