Future Assured
K70m Xmas gift for national carrier
NATIONAL flag carrier Air Niugini has received a K70 million Christmas present from the National Government.
Treasurer and Finance Minister Patrick Pruaitch yesterday presented a cheque worth K70 million to assist Air Niugini to cover the initial deposit on a new aircraft.
Mr Pruaitch, in presenting the funds to Air Niugini board chairman Sir James Tjoeng and chief executive officer Wasantha Kumarasiri, said the K70 million was from the Government’s 2008 supplementary budget.
He said a further K30 million had been allocated to Air Niugini as part of next year’s national budget.
Mr Pruaitch said most of the K70 million would go towards covering the initial deposit for purchasing a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Air Niugini, as a State-owned entity, is allocated funds from the National Government annually to ensure it refleets its aircraft fleet.
The airline has, in the last two years, introduced six Fokker 100 aircraft and six Dash 8 to improve its domestic services.
Sir James and Mr Kumarasiri, in receiving the cheque, thanked the Government for its contribution to the airline.
Sir James said the new aircraft was timely as it would coincide with the development of the multi-billion-kina PNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.
Mr Kumarasiri said while most of the monies would go towards covering the airline’s future aircraft requirement, international travellers to and from PNG would have the privilege of experiencing the technologically-advanced and improved comfort of a Boeing 787 aircraft in the near future - subject to Boeing’s
delivery schedule.
In October this year, Air Niugini was on the verge of suspending its services to Japan due to non-profitability and lack of external support.
However, the Government stepped in and assured to assist with a K12 million subsidy.
This is expected to come out in the future budget.
Air Niugini currently has 18 aircraft and operates to 10 international and 18 domestic destinations.
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