Originally Posted by
olderairhead
So it is not that 104 pilots have left the company because of conditions that have caused flight cancellations but a worldwide pilot shortage!
Air Niugini says there is a global shortage on airline pilots therefore it is taking steps to review its terms and conditions with a view to retain those it has at the same time attract new ones.
The firm said there has not been any reduction in its requirement in terms of pilot experience nor will there be. Further that it continues to spend millions of kina on pilot training abroad with the latest batch due to return to the country later this year.
The airline was responding to allegations that had been raised by a frequent flyer and resource advocate Simon Ekanda.
Ekanda had alleged that the national airline Air Niugini has been in total disarray for the last six months.
Ekenda said that information he had received indicates serious problems that would compromise safety and performance of Air Niugini.
He claimed Air Niugini’s on time performance had dropped to below 70 percent while cancellation and delays of flights and the boarding of aircraft had become frequent.
He said these disruptions were impacting the airline users.
He had called on the Minister for Public Investment and State Enterprises and the Air Niugini board to clarify if indeed there is a shortage of pilots and if this is due to management issues.
The airline’s management in response confirmed that some domestic flights had been cancelled over the last few weeks.
It stated the cause for these cancellations included aircraft becoming unserviceable, operating crew falling sick, bad weather, crew reaching their maximum allowable operating hours, and airport infrastructure issues.
“When these issues occur Air Niugini has strict safety standards which are never compromised – it is always better to cancel a flight and protect safety standards than to take risk.
“The airline deeply regrets the inconvenience that cancellations can cause, and is actively addressing the root cause of the issue. However it will never compromise on safety standards.
“The airline regrets the recent spate of flight disruptions, but is confident that the steps now taken will see these rectified,” the management said.
The airline had stated that in 2016 it achieved an on time performance of 83 per cent of flights completed within 15 minutes of schedule, adding this was on par with world industry standards.
SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS
Why spoil a good story with fact.
Great yarn but totally fake news. Pay and conditions at ANG are not the problem, although they don't help.
The pilots who have left ANG over the last 2 years just got sick of being treated like ****. It doesn't matter what you pay people, if you treat them like a subhuman species and work them like slaves, they will leave. It's that simple, but ANG management have their heads so far up their own arses they can't see that.