Tipsy2 A/PNG have been flying to Lihir direct from Cairns for a year now. Lihir has customs and quarantine paid for by the mine. ICAO approval or not has nothing to do with whether a company can fly to a place internationally, the regulatory authorities in PNG decide what are designated International ports.
Runway extension will not be done for ages land owners and compensation will hold it up.
Contract encompasses CS-LHR-CS operation, PY-LHR-PYand the big one LHR to all ports that the mine decides are neccessay, for it's FIFO operation.
It's a biggy. 3 Dash 8's. 146 maybe one day? The mine has big plans for expansion, it will need the 146 then.
The current A/PNG Dash (CS-LHR-CS) operates in 12 seat executive config, so money is not a problem. After all it"s a GOLD mine you know.
The decision date for the preferred operator is December.
Thems the facts jack