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PX woes continue

Today's Post Courier

Tourism industry petitions airline
TRAVEL and tourism operators have penned an open letter to Air Niugini, complaining about the bad effects on their industry from the airline’s performance in recent times.
More than 80 hotels, lodges, tour groups, car hire companies, the Tourism Promotion Authority and the Tourism Industry Association, all signed up to the complaint letter.
In response, Air Niugini chief executive officer Wasantha Kumarasiri said that he had not officially received the report although he had seen a copy.
However, the airline management had been working on the problem areas and had made some changes as of July 14 which were already starting to have good effects.
Mr Kumarasiri said apart from the problem at Sydney, where Catholic pilgrims were stranded, flights had more or less run on time since July 14, especially on domestic routes.
The letter sent to him said a recent industry poll showed tourism operators, accommodation providers, agents and wholesalers considered the airline’s performance “lacks professionalism’’ in providing contracted services.
“The daily, ever increasing number of disrupted, delayed and cancelled flights is resulting in disgruntled passengers and increasing costs,’’ the letter said.
“Over the past 25 years we have never seen such a lack of performance and non-supply of service to our clients.
“Disrupts are countrywide, impact on all sectors of tourism and there is a common thread of related problems conveyed by many members of the industry.
“Industry principals who have been longtime supporters of Air Niugini no longer want to make excuses or apologise for something they have no control over and are now critical, which is a sad state of affairs for the national carrier of PNG.’’
The industry letter writers said they were open to meeting the airline managers to discuss the issues and work towards a solution “that is effective, ongoing and mutually beneficial’’.
“We sincerely hope you find this a constructive insight from outside the confines of the airline and fully appreciate that we, as an industry, consider the existing situation intolerable,’’ the letter said.
“Our aim is to reach a congenial understanding with Air Niugini that will allow tourism in PNG to prosper and provide the economic benefits so many of our Pacific neighbours enjoy from this industry.’’

After 2 years at the helm, the situation seems to go from bad to worse for this CEO. Maybe it is time he accepted some of the responsibility for the woeful performance??? Seems he blames all but himself.