Air Niugini's subsidiary - LINK PNG
 

MEDIA RELEASE

AIR NIUGINI'S SUBSIDIARY- LINK PNG TO COMMENCE OPERATIONS NEXT MONTH.

Air Niugini now has a subsidiary airline company-LINK PNG which will commence operations on 01st November this year to coincide with Air Niugini’s 41 years of operation.

Air Niugini’s Board Chairman, Sir Frederick Reiher made the announcement during a meeting between the airline management and the union in Port Moresby today.

He said the establishment of a subsidiary company is part of Air Niugini’s restructure into the future and will open a new era in domestic air travel for Papua New Guineans.

Sir Fred said “ The new subsidiary will operate on a “low cost carrier” model, providing an affordable and safe service to the people of Papua New Guinea. The carrier will also serve PNG routes on a community service (CSO) obligation, ensuring that not only are remote and less profitable services maintained, but progressively expanded to meet the growing transport needs of the nation and its people.”
He said “Link PNG will be a smarter, less “frills” and low cost carrier that will principally service routes to provincial and district centres which are currently being operated by the Dash 8 Classic fleet”.

“Its establishment will ensure that rather than air services being reduced by the ownership restructure of Air Niugini Limited and the injection of private sector capital – as has occurred in other countries in the region – they will actually be guaranteed and increased.”

The most important aspect of the establishment of Link PNG is that it will guarantee regular, reliable, safe and affordable services to the more remote parts of the nations where patronage is less than the main domestic routes, but just as important for the travelling public.

Link PNG will commence operations as a separate company on 1st November 2014 under its own Board and Management. Mr Daniel Wanma is the Chief Executive Officer. His senior management team has been selected and they have all satisfied the PNG Civil Aviation Safety Authority (PNGCASA) requirements as “fit and proper” persons – a mandatory regulatory requirement. Link PNG will operate from its own premises located alongside the Cargo premises.

All these personnel, including the technical crew and other employees, will be seconded as Air Niugini employees on an agreed arrangement to work under Link PNG until such time all staff and employees are confirmed on Link PNG’s positions.

Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer Mr Simon Foo said Air Niugini has been operating and running its business the way it has been for the last 40 years with little change when business practices and circumstances, economic climate and technology have changed dramatically in the airline industry within the region and world-wide.

“ This move is gearing Air Niugini to engaging in smarter business practices in the delivery of its services, and in a cost effective manner. It is imperative that Air Niugini embraces new and modern ways and means of delivering its services. ”Mr Foo said

Didn't realise PX had any frills for there to be less of?

The Jetstarisation of Air Niugini.

The first and most obvious error to me seems to be the secondment of Mainline Pilots to the new venture,Allan has famously stated that creates pollution of cultures,perhaps Simon has not got his number.last time I checked the advice to call Allan was included in the Australian National Anthem but no Number is proffered:E

I'll go against the mundane and typical negativity in this industry (and particularly on this forum) and wish the very best of luck to Daniel Wanma and his team in this endeavour. God knows he'll need it in such a challenging place to conduct aviation operations. He's a smart guy and a real gentleman. Hope it's a success.

Snail

:ok:

Hugh, So I guess you figure on finding a couple of young blokes to pay for a Dash rating and rush off for a quick Wapanamunda-Moresby-Chimbu then? As for the frills the cheese and crackers made it all the way to the flightdeck along with the business class sandwiches from the previous day. While savouring these delicacies I read in the post courier that all staff had been consulted about the changes and were happy, which was a great relief since it was the first we had heard of it. While being so happy I will try not to pollute the culture unduly.

I feels our pain Saabs. But there is an old adage that says. " build it and they will come". So there are youngsters who will not only do the sectors you propose but perhaps four more to boot ,after funding their own Dash Ratings....but I wouldn't worry .. It only happens ...if......Simon Says !!! :}

I heard that they were going to re-fleet the Dash 8s with ATRs, is that still on the horizon?

The horizon looks very empty right now. Only good news is a couple of good people in management (against all odds). If they have any Captains left in the New year Link may well fare better than the mothership which appears to be heading for the rocks at full speed!

"mothership which appears to be heading for the rocks at full speed!"

Hope ANG doesn't make the news headlines for all the wrong reasons.....................

Changes certainly needed to be done, however the surgeons with the carving knives (or should that be bush knives and wood saws) needs to be very careful not to cut out to much of the good stuff!

Are the Q400s part of "Link PNG" or is it just be DH8-300s?

Just classics.

Duck, “the surgeons” are using a chain saw, and a large one at that. Amputation rather than delicate surgery seems to be the mission.

The 2015 contract that I have seen has a HUGE reduction in conditions that NOT IN THE LEAST includes: no more offshore basing, no tours, leave reduced from 6 weeks to 4 weeks, salary packages reduced by at least 20% (more if Training, Checking, etc) and KPI targets such as achieving min hours over contract period (now only 2 yrs) or be dismissed (they are responsible for rostering the hours, don't like you, no hours I suggest).

Many of the other conditions are just downright draconian with the company putting all responsibility onto the Pilots and accepting none themselves.

Yearly salary increase to be 1.7% (subject to meeting the KPI targets, see above) which compares badly to the latest PNG inflation rate of 5.1%. Salary paid in PGK which is a little volatile.

All new hires from 2015 will be on a pretty poor B scale salary.

A sign it or leave town (ala barbed wire compound :eek:) proposal.

Hey SAABS,did you teach me about sheep based windshear detection system?

Dash F/O B scale will be paid 61% less than A scale based on first year with 20% experience bonus plus 13th month bonus.

A scale $118181 B scale $46277

Will the thirteenth month and experience bonus (15%) be included in the 2015 agreement for A scalers though?

Reading the 2015 pdf version of the contract that was sent shows no mention anywhere of:

Retention Bonus;

13th Month payment or

DH8 Experience Bonus;

in either the "A" or "B" scale salaries.

If the Experience Bonus goes that will be a further 20% pay loss on top of the 11% pay cut to the current "A" DH8 scale salary....31% reduction in salary, bet those crews are impressed:eek:

For the A scalers, experience bonus yes, 13th month no. Also no level change from 2015 only 1.7% if you meet KPI's.

Olderairhead,

Is it still the case that the schedules on the international flights make it impossible for guys to make those (KPI figures of) 600 hours due to to up to 30 hours a month of deadhead paxing to pick up flights?

Still correct that there is not much night aviation in country so there so the only rostering is day hours only, makes for busy days to log 600 hours. Take a lot of Hagans a day to do that!!!!

BTW, has a new contract been drafted, the copy I have seen does not mention anything about the experience bonus at all, even though you suggest it will happen.

If it is not written in the contract, what makes you think you will get paid it?

Bet those crews won't be here come Jan.