Aviation: BUSINESS CLASS SEATS AT REDUCED FARES
Papua New Guinea’s privately-owned airline, Airlines PNG, is extending its wings further with a new service to Brisbane from Port Moresby commencing this month.
Announcing the new service last month, Airlines PNG is now advertising its twice-a-week service between the Australian city and the PNG capital which will begin operation on August 21.
After years of servicing PNG’s domestic routes and a successful charter business catering particularly for the country’s thriving mining industry, Airlines PNG now wants to complement its equally successful Port Moresby-Cairns service with flights to the Queensland state capital.
Explains Simon Wild, managing director of Airlines PNG: “What is unique about our Brisbane services is that the Boeing aircraft we will be using will feature an all-business class seating configuration, with only 60 very roomy and comfortable seats in the cabin.
“But we will be selling those seats at discounted economy class prices and yet still provide a free meal and bar service.”
Previously known as Milne Bay Airlines or MBA, Airlines PNG was formed nearly 20 years ago by Wild’s father, John, a naturalised citizen of PNG. The company operates a fleet of de Havilland Dash 8 and Twin Otter aircraft.
The airline has the largest fleet of Dash 8 in the Pacific, one of which is leased to Samoa’s domestic carrier, Polynesian Airlines.
That lease was negotiated when John Fitzgerald, now general manager of Airlines PNG, was head of the Apia carrier.
But following the scaling down of Polynesian after its international service was taken over by Virgin Blue and known as Polynesian Blue, Fitzgerald resigned to join Airlines PNG as general manager.
“Airline PNG’s Port Moresby-Cairns service that commenced late 2005 has been successful in stimulating the PNG-Australia market. It has proven that there is room for competition on routes between the two countries,” Fitzgerald said.
“We will initially be providing Brisbane services Monday and Wednesday each week. But we will look at expanding those services when market forces dictate.”
A large part of the market share is currently held by PNG’s national carrier, Air Niugini, which operates daily flights between Port Moresby and Brisbane.