Wartoto urges govt to subsidise small airlines

 By MIRIAM MALAWA

THE Government has been urged to subsidise small airline operators which service rural areas.

Travel Air owner Eremas Wartoto (pictured) said the Government should review its policies to assist them as they were providing vital services to the rural population and remote areas of the country.

Wartoto said this during Travel Air’s inaugural flight to Vanimo, West Sepik, last week.

He said the high costs of providing air services to rural airstrips were affecting their operations. 

He added that small airlines like Travel Air played an important role in connecting remote regions and eased the movement of cargo and people.  

 “We can talk about development but if, there is no movement of cargo and people, there would be no development,” Wartoto said. 

He said state-owned Air Niugini received an annual government subsidy and it was only fair that smaller airlines also received such funding.

Wartoto said this would also encourage cheaper fares for the travelling public. “We can cry for cheaper fares but we need to change few dimensions in the way we do flying in this country,” he said.

He said one of the things that need to change was by bringing in bigger planes.

Wartoto also commended Air Niugini for doing a “wonderful job” in providing airlines services in the country.