New service for Kundiawa

 By ZACHERY PER

THE Chimbu provincial government and North Coast Aviation will launch a new air service between Kundiawa town and 10 airstrips next week.

North Coast Aviation Highlands regional manager Andrew Saki confirmed that the airline would serve 12 remote airstrips in the Karimui district.

He said one aircraft and a pilot would be based permanently in Kundiawa.

Saki thanked Governor Noah Kool for his initiative to partner the airline under a public-private partnership arrangement to serve the remote district.

He also acknowledged the support of Karimui-Nomane MP Mogerema Wei and provincial administrator Joe KundaNaur.

Saki said the initiative would largely benefit public servants, farmers, churches, business houses in Kundiawa and students.

The airline based in Lae has been providing service between Goroka and Karimui for almost two years.

Saki said the people of the district had been cut off from air services into the provincial capital for more than 10 years when Trans Niugini Airways ceased to operate and noone seemed interested.

The district is being served by Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and Seventh-Day Adventist Aviation (SDA).

The launching is scheduled in Kundiawa next Thursday.