QantasLink begins POM-Cairns ops

A CODE sharing agreement between  Qantas   and Air Niugini for the Port Moresby-Cairns (PoM-Cairns) route ended yesterday following Qantas regional airline QantasLink’s move to operate the route.
Qantas regional general manager for PNG and Solomon Island Rick Sawicki told The National: “The POM-Cairns code sharing agreement ends today.”
 “We have our own aircraft, the Q400, that will make 12 weekly return flights.
“However, it does not affect other Qantas and Air Niugini code sharing arrangement for Brisbane, Sydney and other Australian airports,” Sawicki said. 
To mark the end of the code sharing agreement, QantasLink celebrated the arrival of its first flight – QF191 – which touched down yesterday shortly after 8.30am at the Jackson International airport.
The maiden flight heralded the first time Qantas flew into Port Moresby in 2002.
QantasLink executive manager Narendra Kumar said QantasLink was very pleased to offer the people of Papua New Guinea a new state-of-the-art regional airline product in the Q400 aircraft.
The initial Port Moresby-Cairns schedule will be twice daily Monday-Friday, departing Port Moresby at 8.15am on Monday and 9.20am on Tuesday to Friday, and departing Cairns at 5.45am on Monday and 6.45am Tuesday to Friday.
Then, a second afternoon departure from Port Moresby will be at 5.45pm Monday to Thursday, and 6.45pm on Friday.
 From Cairns, it will be at 3.15pm Monday to Thursday, and 4.15pm on Friday.