PNG Air expecting 60,000 passengers

MORE than 60,000 passengers are expected to fly with PNG Air during the festive period as the airline makes operational adjustment to cater for the increased numbers.
PNG Air chief commercial officer Paul Abbot said the recent inclusion of another aircraft to its fleet would boost the company’s capacity to cater for the demand.
“The other thing that is happening for us is having a new schedule which is also going in place next week that also has the seventh ATR into it as well,” he said.
“For us it is about having more capacity during the festive period because December is just a huge volume month.
“Last December, we moved around the vicinity of 50,000 people juts for those 31 days.
“And this year, it will be over 60, 000 people. So we need that extra capacity to move people around the country.
“It will just be about increased frequency on a lot of the key routes.”
PNG Air board chairman Murray Woo commended the people for their continued support for the airline.
“We have embarked on getting a seventh aircraft – the ATR 72-600 – and it is so timely for the festive period,” Woo said.
“It will give us the capacity to service the nation and allow people to travel back home comfortably and celebrate Christmas.
“PNG Air is also grateful for the continued support we have received and we will continue to grow to allow better flights for Papua New Guinea by giving the traveling public a choice.”