PNG to ask Australia for airport space during Apec

By HELEN TARAWA
THE country will request Australia to provide space in Cairns and Townsville airports to park the aircraft of world leaders during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in November.
Director-general of the Apec 2018 coordination authority Sir Charles Lepani, pictured, said there would be a lot of air traffic in and out of the country.
“We are in regular monthly meetings with the National Airport Corporation. As it goes (closer) to the Apec leaders’ week, there will be a lot of discussions and planning to make sure we manage the inflow and outflow of traffic,” Sir Charles said.
“Leaders will come in their big aircraft. We are hoping that we can manage all who come in their aircraft.
“Chinese president and Brunei president will have the biggest jumbos — bigger than the US Air Force One.
“We will park the Chinese President’s aircraft. The US President will come with four Air Force One and Air Force Two — will all be parked at Jackson International Airport. But one of them will have to be diverted elsewhere.
“We will talk to our Australian friends for Cairns and Townsville to be made available to park the rest of the aircraft.”
He said Sydney Airport did the same when Australia hosted Apec.
Only a couple of aircraft were parked there while the rest were diverted to the other regional centres.