With Port Moresby being the gateway to the Pacific located to the South and Asia to the North, our flagship airliner Air Niugini is not fully utilising its potential.
Business models, refleeting, change of board and management, and other strategies devised are failing.
Flight cancellations, poor connectivity, hike in airfares, political interference, government support and non-profitability are testament to this failure. They are becoming a liability for the country and her taxpayers than proudly being an airliner that promotes tourism, business, investment, mobility and connectivity.
PNG airspace has been opened up to rivals with stronger competition from international airliners. Domestically, it is still a market leader, though.
Some commentators including political leaders have been urging Air Niugini to consider selling part of its shares to the international airlines such as China Southern Airlines or Qantas to boost its capacity and services.
Why? Our Melanesian neighbour Fiji’s Airlines is outperforming our own pride.
The national airline could follow the example of Fiji Airways, which has become a global award-winning carrier after selling a portion of its shares to Qantas.
We believe a similar partnership would help Air Niugini modernise its fleet, improve service quality, and expand its international routes.
With all the fanfares in welcoming our ‘pipol’s balus,’ we can see ahead of time that the status will remain the same.
Minister Duma and the State Enterprises team, do the right thing. Over to you!