but by downgrading a country’s regulator, ICAO has the power to shut down international flying of designated airlines.
Not strictly correct. Another state (country) can stop an airline operating into their country, but ICAO has no such “power”.
In terms of PX management there are some very capable people there, including Granger Narara, one of the COO’s mentioned. I know nothing of the current CEO, but certainly in flight ops there are several fit and proper persons.
CASA PNG are not exactly perfect either, and so should take a good look in the mirror before casting aspersions on others. A USOAP audit (conducted by ICAO) is focussed on the regulator, not any individual operator.
As previously mentioned, IOSA are not a regulator and cannot “ground” an operator. They can issue findings as a result of an audit, and then the airline has 3 or 4 months to acquit those findings. Should that not occur, then the airline’s IOSA accreditation lapses. That is all.
Air Niugini is not perfect, but neither are many other IOSA carriers. The overall focus has always been on a safe and compliant operation, despite political interference. In a particularly challenging environment this has been accomplished for over 50 years.