Air Niugini has deferred the launch of its planned Port Moresby-Shanghai route, citing expected increased demand across its existing network.
The Papua New Guinean carrier had been scheduled to start the twice-weekly flights on 23 October 2018 using Boeing 767-300ERs, but on 22 October itannounced that the route will be shelved.
“In light of the busy APEC and the usual holiday and Christmas season, and expected increased demand on domestic and existing international routes, Air Niugini has decided to defer its recently announced flights to Shanghai, China,” the airline states.
Papua New Guinea is hosting a series of Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation meetings this year, for which Air Niugini is the host carrier.
It also recently lost one of its two Boeing 737-800s in an accident at Chuuk, leaving it with a jet fleet of one 737-800, one -700, two 767s, seven Fokker 100s and six F70s, Flight Fleets Analyzer shows.
The airline adds that it will review the introduction of services to China at a later date.
FlightGlobal schedules data shows that there are no carriers that fly between China and Papua New Guinea.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
