Airline news The latest from Air Niugini
WITH ILLAN KAPRANGI
Air Niugini opens flagship office
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ir Niugini has opened a new sales office at the Waigani Central Stop n Shop Complex in Port Moresby and closed the office in the Datec building in Waigani. There is easy access to the new office and ample parking. Air Niugini managing director, Alan Milne, says the new facility is the airline’s flagship office, paving the way for enhanced customer services. “This is our newest and biggest domestic sales facility, which is centrally located with sufficient parking space for customers. It is also close to bus stops and is a ‘one-stop shop’ where customers can do their shopping and other business in the same area.” The new sales office has been in operation since December. Its opening hours are 8am to 8pm, including Sundays. The office has 15 staff, but this is expected to increase to more than 20 with several domestic and international counters in the
This is our newest and biggest domestic sales facility.
retail section, as well as corporate sales. This will cater for the increasing number of customers and corporate clients, including group travel, VIP and government travel. n
Grand opening … Air Niugini’s managing director Alan Milne (cutting ribbon) and Air Niugini staff at the opening of the airline’s new flagship sales office in Waigani.
12 Paradise – Air Niugini’s in-flight magazine
Faster, bigger plane put into service
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ink PNG, a subsidiary of Air Niugini, has taken delivery of its first Q402 aircraft (pictured). The Q402 operates close to jet speeds and is 30 per cent faster than the other turbo-props operating in Papua New Guinea. On a route such as Port Moresby to Rabaul, the Q402 will save 32 minutes, with a flight time of one hour 38 minutes instead of two hours 10 minutes. With 76 seats, it has over 50 per cent more passenger capacity than Link PNG’s Dash 8s. It is also capable of operating into smaller airports that are unable to handle Fokker jets. Link PNG general manager, Bruce Alabaster, says the new aircraft will be able to operate longer direct routes, and the additional seating capacity can be expected to result in lower airfares. “It has 50 per cent more seats than the DHC-8s, but similar operating costs.” The immediate use of the Q402s will be to airports that are planned for runway upgrades during 2020 and hence will not be available for Fokker jet operations. These airports include Rabaul, Alotau, Madang and Kavieng. Additional Q402 aircraft have been ordered. n
