Papua New Guinea's flag carrier Air Niugini names latest aircraft ‘Alotau’

THE board of Air Niugini named its third Fokker-70 aircraft “Alotau” in a ceremony in Port Moresby yesterday.

The first was christened Mt Hagen and the second Hoskins.
Chairman Sir Frederick Reiher said the latest addition to their fleet was to recognise the important contribution Alotau and Milne Bay made to the airline.

“Our services to Gurney airport (Alotau) are well supported by the people and businesses of the province, and increasingly by tourists from PNG,” he said.
“Air Niugini appreciates that support and we will continue to support the province as it continues to grow.” Alotau MP Charles Abel welcomed plans by the airline for more infrastructure and new aircraft.

“We’ve heard of the good thing Air Niugini is doing and this is part of that re-fleeting exercise to bring efficiency, phase out the Q-400 and bring in the ‘F’ series to complement the F-100 which makes it more proficient in terms of crewing and maintenance,” Abel said.
“It goes beyond simply Alotau and the tourism industry down there. It’s about a broader agenda to improve delivery of government services and government efficiency in general.
Milne Bay Governor Titus Philemon thanked Air Niugini for naming the aircraft “Alotau.”

Source: The National

100 years old coins hidden in East New Britain Province - Papua New Guinea

A German historian has discovered vital information that suggests the possibility of gold, silver and bronze coins hidden in the Rabaul town more than 100 years ago.

These "special company coins" belonging to the German New Guinea Company that once governed parts of the northern parts of Papua New Guinea were buried in a certain location in Rabaul, according to Professor Dr Herman Hiery.


The "bird of paradise coins" were valid only in New Guinea and the currency was known as the "New Guinea Mark". It was in circulation between 1884 and 1911.

Currently, the coins are scarce and in high demand. According to Prof Hiery, a gold coin is worth a lot of money.

He mentioned his discovery during a recent historical lecture at the New Guinea Club in Rabaul and gave more information on his discovery during a recent interview with the local daily newspaper - the Post Courier.

Prof Hiery is an international expert on the German colonial era in South-East Asia and the Pacific. He is currently the Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Bayreuth in Germany.

He said before WW1, the company took the coins which were minted in Berlin, Germany, out of circulation.

"They took them all out of circulation because the German New Guinea Company was still here but not running any more government. The government was the German government and the legal tender was German money and not the special New Guinea coins of the German New Guinea Company and because they took them all out of circulation there are very, very few left that still exists," he said.

He said the coins were supposed to go on a ship back to Germany to be melted down but the Australians came during WW1 and the German officials did not know what to do with the coins so they hid them in a steel box.

The Rabaul Post Office officials wrote down the exact number of the gold, silver and copper coins and the box was hidden five metres into the ground.

He said there have been a number of volcanic eruptions in Rabaul since 1914 and the box should now be located about 10 metres below the surface.

VIDEO: Discover the history of Rabaul during the WWII.

PNG's flag carrier Air Niugini will increase Australia flights effective 30th October 2016

AIR Niugini Chief Executive Officer, Mr Simon Foo is pleased to announce an increase in the number of flights to and from the Australian cities of Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney effective from - 30th October 2016.

Mr Foo said the flight increase was made possible following recent variations to the Air Niugini and Qantas Code Share Agreement, which are subject to regulatory approval.

“ With this change, Air Niugini will continue to offer a double daily service to Brisbane, one of which will be operated by ANG’s wide body Boeing 767 aircraft. The second service will be operated by a Qantas Boeing 737 aircraft. There will be two flights per day in each direction.”

“ Air Niugini also plans to increase its convenient direct services to Sydney from two to three flights per week.”

“ The airline’s services to Cairns on the popular Fokker 70 jet aircraft will also increase. Air Niugini will operate at least two flights a day in each direction, with larger aircraft operating on some flights.” Mr Foo said

Mr Foo also said “ Under the revised code share arrangements, Air Niugini will be able to place its “PX” code on Qantas operated flights from Brisbane and Sydney to Melbourne and Perth, allowing its passengers to make seamless connections to these cities and to have access to a wider choice of through fares and tickets than is currently available.”

Air Niugini and Qantas have agreed to continue code sharing across all three routes between Papua New Guinea and Australia, subject to regulatory approval. Air Niugini and Qantas have successfully operated code share services on the Brisbane and Sydney routes since 2002, offering travellers access to a wider choice of flights and air fares than would otherwise be available.

Source: Press Release / Corporate Affairs - Air Niugini

Air Niugini signs China charter flight deal between Shanghai and Port Moresby

AIR Niugini has reached an air services agreement with China to begin tourism charter flights from Shanghai next year.

Airline chairman Sir Frederick Reiher said Air Niugini continued to expand its regional and international services to boost tourism and travel.
He said next month, the airline would operate regular services between Port Moresby and Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia.

It will also increase flight frequencies to Sydney and Manila.

“We need to work with the Government to ensure these services and others under consideration benefit our economy and our tourism industry,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sir Frederick announced Air Niugini’s K111 million investment in a new residential complex next to its head office in Port Moresby.

He said it was one of the steps taken by the airline management to reduce operating costs and make savings beyond its re-fleeting programme.

Source: PNG News Online

Air Niugini to increase services between Port Moresby and Cairns

AIR Niugini will increase its flights between Port Moresby and Cairns to meet the market demand and seat capacity once Qantas pulls out services on this route at the end of October. 

Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer, Mr Simon Foo said the airline company will increase its frequency and seat capacity by over 50 percent by increasing the use of Fokker 100 and F70 jets on this rote.

Mr Foo said, “ It is good news for our customers who will now be able to fly on an all jet schedule services from POM/Cairns/POM and reduce travel time whilst continuing to enjoy a choice of carriers and departure times.”
Air Niugini and Qantas have agreed to a code share arrangement on this route, but is subject to regulatory approval.

“This would allow Qantas as a marketing carrier to continue offering Qantas Product at competitive prices to the traveling public. This will operate in a similar manner as to code share on the POM/Brisbane route over the last 14 years. Competition on any market is healthy,” Mr Foo concluded.

PNG-Israel Visa Waiver Agreement ratification presented in Parliament - enabling greater movement between PNG-Israel

MINISTER for Justice and Attorney General Ano Pala presented a statement to the National Parliament on ratification of Visa Waiver Agreements between PNG and Israel saying Israel is a key development partner for PNG. 

He said Israel was particularly interested in the areas of agriculture, education and training, security, technical support, technology transfer, capacity building and others.

"Further, given our Christian heritage and links, Israel is of immense interest to Papua New Guineans," Pala said.

He added that the ratification of the Visa Waiver Agreement with Israel will enable greater movement of leaders, officials, diplomats, and ordinary citizens between the two countries and contribute to closer development, trade, economic, cultural and people-to-people links.

Parliament has also passed an Air Service Agreement with the Federated States of Micronesia, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea.

The main objectives of the agreement are to provide the framework for scheduled air services between PNG and the countries concerned, to promote PNG's aviation interest and contribute to the enhancement of bilateral relations.

PNG's Air Niguini

Source: PNG Loop

Qantas dumps Cairns-Port Moresby flight, leaving Air Niugini sole route operator

Aviationtribune.com has reported that as of 30 October 2016, Qantas will no longer fly the Cairns-Port Moresby route but shift to Brisbane-Port Moresby. The site reports that this course of action comes as result of Qantas wanting to better serve the business market.

The Brisbane-Port Moresby route will operate daily.
Qantas announced last month that due to high demand for flights to Bali, it would be reducing its domestic routes, particularly in regional areas.

Qantas and Air Niugini have agreed to continue codesharing across all Australia-PNG routes.
The news is good news for Air Niugini as it will now be the only operator maintaining direct flights between Cairns and PNG. Air PNG no longer operates on this route.

The only concern some have raised on Qantas abandoning this route is whether fares for this route may rise.
We will have to wait and see what happens.

In the meantime, it can be confirmed on the Qantas website that it has no flights after 29 October 2016.

QANTAS quits POM-Cairns route to serve Bali-Cairns route. 

Air Niugini to dominate POM-CAIRNS route daily.

Source: http://skerah.com/

Australian passport holders granted visa on arrival to Papua New Guinea, a 30-days free tourist visa

Australian passport holders will now secure a 30-day, free tourist visa on arrival in Papua New Guinea. The VISA on arrival has been granted by the PNG Government to Australians. 

The change in visa requirements was decided by the National Executive Council and it was the first time this option had been available to Australian visitors.

Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority chief executive officer Jerry Agus said he was delighted by the news and saw this decision as an important step forward for the PNG tourism industry.

"We welcome this news and believe that by simplifying the process and allowing visas to be granted upon arrival at no cost, will entice more Australians to visit one of their closest neighbours," Mr Agus said.

PNG Immigration office, Air Niugini executives and Foreign Affairs hierarchy and political leaders also confirmed that this was the best option PNG could take to for tourists so PNG could have many more people come to visit and experience the beauty of the country.

An Australian mother and a child with mud-men at Mt. Hagen Cultural Show, August 2015.

Source: PNG Online Travel News