Air Niugini CEO out the door

[Office Update]

Bruce Alibaster is leaving at the weekend, been replaced by .......... ???

[Petropavlovsk]

Newspaper article is copy of Chairman's letter.

Alabaster resigns as Air Niugini CEO | Loop PNG (https://www.looppng.com/business/alabaster-resigns-air-niugini-ceo-118033)

[grizzled]

It will be interesting to find out if Bruce had simply had enough and decided it was time to go home. Or perhaps he was pushed (it is PNG, after all...).

[packapoo]

Must be something to do with the loss of cabin pressure the other day?

I'm surprised that oversight by thge airline hasn't been picked up here.

[Petropavlovsk]

When you replace a CEO whom just happens to be a very qualified pilot; and an excellent administrator, you have to wonder.

So given recent events, allows the PNG government the opportunity to replace the white man as part of the nationals only programme. The corrupt PNG government will find a way to blame everyone else but themselves for a lack of FOUREX that has prevented Puma from buying fuel. Fleet renewal programme is problematic, no doubt government interference involved. Possible the new fleet choice will come down to 'brown envelopes' dropped in the right place.

[Kagamuga]

AIR Niugini Limited chief executive officer Bruce Alabaster was sacked by the National Executive Council (NEC) over “performance” issues, says State Enterprises Minister William Duma.

“The decision was the result of serious issues raised at the NEC about the performance of both Alabaster and the board of directors of Air Niugini, (plus) the management, some of which undermine national interests,” Duma said.

It is understood that the Government is also seriously looking into the performance of the heads of other State-owned entities, including PNG Power Limited and Water PNG Limited.

Duma said Alabaster was sacked by the NEC on Feb 23, following “due process”.

Attempts by The National to reach Alabaster for a comment yesterday were unsuccessful.

The NEC was concerned about the performance of the airline’s management and board “at a time when a major strategic reform is occurring in the state-owned enterprise system including Air Niugini”.

“This includes the recent proposed financing arrangement for re-fleeting Air Niugini between PNG and Australia. Re-fleeting is a major commercial and structural exercise which will ensure the future of the national airline,” Duma said. “The Marape-led Government will not tolerate any risks to the safety and lives of the travelling public.”

On Tuesday, the Air Niugini board said Alabaster had resigned. But Duma clarified that Alabaster did not resign but was sacked.

He also pointed out the failure to declare profits “through management incompetence or otherwise, thereby affecting the future” of Air Niugini.

“Alabaster was terminated by the NEC, the appointing authority, following due process,” Duma said.

“And the board of Air Niugini can only comply with NEC decisions without seeking to downplay or undermine (them).”

Duma said the performance of the Air Niugini management and board in the coming months would be closely observed as the re-fleeting exercise proceeded, and other strategic reforms implemented.

Gary Seddon, one of Air Niugini’s directors, will be acting in the interim until a permanent CEO is appointed. Seddon was a former Chief Operating Officer of Kumul Consolidated Holdings, a former Government Relations Director with Digicel, and a consultant to KCH.

Chairman Sir Kostas Constantinou expressed confidence in Seddon’s ability to provide stability during the transition period.

“The board and management will continue to focus on Air Niugini’s sustainability through the purchase of new aircraft, to improve service,” Sir Kostas said.

[chimbu warrior]

The NEC was concerned about the performance of the airline’s management and board

​​​​​​​A bit rich coming from the NEC...................... maybe they should take a look in the mirror.

[FKNFKRFKD]

Sounds like some Polli missed his kickback from the Fiji Airbus deal and is now throwing a tantrum 🤣🤣

[greenslopes]

Sounds like some Polli missed his kickback from the Fiji Airbus deal and is now having throwing a tantrum 🤣🤣
yep. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Kagamuga]

This is the way it works;

Take one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Add in a PM who does not even care about his own electorate; and remember he did serve under former PM Peter O'Neil (that's Peter O'Steal)

You have an excellent administrator as CEO (Bruce Alabaster) and with the added benefit of being an 8,500 hr plus pilot in PNG. The problem is he is not open to corruption and he is a 'whitey'

So replace him with the PM's lackey; and let the negotiations for the fleet replacement begin. Embrarer were in PNG last week with the E192; and no boubt Boeing and Airbus with their offerings will be talking to the airline, (read Aussie tax payers) Remember there was an accord signed just last week for Australia to assist PNG in the fleet renewal programme.

Now we get to the "brown envelopes", or should I say the politicians retirement fund enhancement programme.

Aircraft will not be selected for being the correct or most appropiate type for the country.

Former PM, the late Iambakey Okuk (1945-1986) was famous for his involvement in the DeHavilland Dash7 procurement ! and the ill fated Gulfsteam II.

Yet we keep throwing money in a northerly direction; to keep those pesky Chinese at bay!
.

[fdr]

A bit rich coming from the NEC...................... maybe they should take a look in the mirror.

​​​​​​​Is there a mirror that hasn't been broken or stolen, or sold off?

[tail wheel]

"Former PM, the late Iambakey Okuk (1945-1986) was famous for his involvement in the DeHavilland Dash7 procurement !"

Others benefited from the $3 mill Singapore "contribution" from the DHC-7 deal, not Iambakey. A case where a whitey was smarter than a local.

Not the first time a Singapore bank has facilitated a PNG acquisition.

[Pinky the pilot]

A case where a whitey was smarter than a local.

Em nau, Taily; I have for quite some time now been of the opinion that you know of many skeletons in closets in the 'Land of the Unexpected'.:hmm::E

Maybe one day you should write a book, yes?

former PM Peter O'Neil (that's Peter O'Steal)

IMSMC I carted him around the Country a few times in a Simbu C402 langtaim before he became PM. The late GH spoke of him on occasion.

[grizzled]

Damn. This is SO typical of PNG. Just when one gets a wee tiny bit of optimism for the future of that amazing, screwed up, beautiful, corrupt -- and of course unpredictable -- place, some politician or senior bureaucrat inserts himself (and his not-so-discreetly outstretched hand) in the works and sets things back another decade. Bruce is incredibly knowledgeable, fair, tough, and very experienced in aviation ops and in aviation leadership roles. While he was at the helm of PX, he did everything he could to ensure safe and efficient operations while trying to earn a profit for PX -- and while navigating around the almost constant political interference. .

[Cravenmorehead]

Bruce is a good guy, he treated me well when I worked there and I liked him. I hope he can move on and do good elsewhere, I am sure he will.
Craven.

[Duck Pilot]

Airbus A330 training issues maybe?? :ugh: