Brisbane-based Flight West Airlines has expanded plans for new services between northern Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG), further challenging embattled Air Niugini on one of its prime revenue earning routes. The Australian regional carrier now plans to add two direct flights weekly between Cairns and PNG's second city, Lae, to its eight weekly Fokker F28-4000 flights between North Queensland and PNG capital Port Moresby, scheduled to begin on October 12.
PNG aviation minister Karla Swokim, speaking at a launch of the services in Port Moresby, added to the pressure on Air Niugini's international and domestic services, saying: "I will negotiate fifth freedom traffic rights allowing carriers with which we have air service agreements to operate into and through PNG, especially those airports where Air Niugini has withdrawn its services".
Banking sources estimate the PNG airline now owes the nationally owned PNG Banking Corporation about 160 million kina ($76 million).
Meanwhile, four other PNG operators have applied for approvals to start scheduled PNG/Australia charter flights for resource industries. Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has, however, told them it is refusing to accept the validity of licences and certificates issued by the Papua New Guinea Office of Civil Aviation (OCA) following an audit conducted for Australian Aid Abroad, to determine how Australian aid can help repair the country's flagging aviation infrastructure. The audit team recommended 181 improvements in the country's safety regulations, air traffic control, communications, radio navigation aids and airports.
The ruling does not affect the country's two scheduled international carriers Air Niugini or Milne Bay Air.
Source: Flight International
