PARADISE

AIRLINE NEWS
THE LATEST FROM AIR NIUGINI
TOWNSVILLE FLIGHTS
SET TO START
Air Niugini’s new air service between
Port Moresby and Townsville in north
Queensland, Australia, commences
March 31.
It’s a direct service and operates every
Monday and Friday, departing Port Moresby
at 9.55am and arriving in Townsville at
11.45am. The return service departs
Townsville at 12:30pm and arrives in Port
Moresby at 2.20pm.
Air Niugini chairman, Sir Frederick Reiher,
says Townsville already enjoys strong
business and cultural links with PNG through
its ‘sister city’ relationship with Port Moresby.
“Air Niugini has evaluated and engaged in
extensive discussions with the Townsville
Airport owners and operators, the mayor of
Townsville, the Townsville Enterprise
Cardinal on board
Air Niugini chairman, Sir Frederick Reiher,
and the airline’s chief executive officer,
Simon Foo, were among hundreds of
Catholic faithful who greeted PNG’s
first-ever cardinal, Sir John Ribat, when he
returned to Port Moresby late last year from the
Vatican in Rome.
Cardinal Ribat had been in Rome to receive
the red hat and cassock of a cardinal from
Pope Francis.
Some of the well wishers who greeted the
On the flight path … Air Niugini is starting a
twice-weekly air service to Townsville and has
released packages for rugby fans.
and local political and business leaders. This
new service will open up important business,
educational, sporting and people-to-people
links.”
Sir Frederick is impressed with the
support for the service by the Townsville
business community, and encourages the
PNG business community to look at this
opportunity as well.
“This service has the potential to be an
important addition to our regional hub. It
will offer the citizens of Townsville and
other centres, such as Mackay and Mount
Isa, the efficient international ‘connection’
they don’t currently have – transiting here
(Port Moresby) before travelling to other
major Asian destinations such as Manila and
Singapore,” Sir Frederick says.
cardinal at Jacksons International Airport
turned up as early as 4am.
Cardinal Ribat is from Volavolo village in
the Rabaul district of East New Britain. He is
among about 100 cardinals in the world, who
are just a step away from becoming Pope.
Cardinal Ribat acknowledged Air Niugini for
ensuring smooth travel to and from Hong Kong
during his return journey to Rome. n
‘Heaven sent’, see our profile of the
new cardinal on page 72.
The direct service will also benefit the
SP PNG Hunters when they play in the
Queensland Cup against the Townsville,
Mackay and Rockhampton teams – both
in terms of reduced travel time, and lower
team travel costs. And it will enable fans in
Papua New Guinea to attend Cowboys home
matches and the Hunters games – as well
as the fans of the north Queensland teams
who want to see their teams play here in
Port Moresby.
The NRL round five match between the
Cowboys and Rabbitohs in Townsville will
coincide with the commencement of the
service on March 31, an opportunity for fans
in PNG to attend.
Air Niugini has released a three-night
package of PGK2679.00 per person twin
share, which includes return airfares and
airport transfers, accommodation, full buffet
breakfast, return transfer from hotel to
stadium, match ticket, all travel taxes and
surcharges. Phone Air Niugini Tours, 327
3557, or toll free 180 2121.
The inclusion of Townsville on Air Niugini’s
route network brings the airline’s destinations
in Australia to four and its total international
destinations to 15.
Recently, Air Niugini also started flights to
Pohnpei and Chuuk in the Federated States
of Micronesia.
Other destinations that remain firmly on Air
Niugini’s radar for the future include Shanghai,
China, and Jayapura in Indonesia. n
See our story ‘6 Townsville essentials’
on page 50.
Homecoming … (from left) Air Niugini chief
executive officer Simon Foo, cardinal Sir John
Ribat and Air Niugini chairman Sir Frederick
Reiher at Jacksons International Airport.
10 Paradise – Air Niugini’s in-flight magazine