Air Niugini General Manager Commercial gone
 

Post Courier Abbot out of Air Niugini managment

postcourier.com.pgMarch 16, 2023
BY MAXINE KAMUS

In the span of two weeks, the country’s national airline company, Air Niugini, has seen two major changes done to its management.

After the recent changes made to the Air Niugini chief executive officer (CEO) position where Bruce Alabaster was replaced this week, another change took place seeing the removal of Air Niugini general manager commercial, Paul Abbot.

Mr Abbot joined the airline company in June 2022 when the airline was emerging from the disruption caused by COVID-19 and was responsible for the commercial performance of the company.

Reasons for his removal as the company’s general manager commercial were not made known.

He is replaced by Charlie Wanma who is now the acting general manager commercial.

Air Niugini acting chief executive officer, Gary Seddon confirmed that Mr Abbot was no longer with Air Niugini and Mr Wanma will be the acting as his replacement.

“I can confirm that Mr Abbot is no longer with Air Niugini. We are appreciative of Mr Abbot’s service and wish him well with his future endeavours,” Mr Seddon said.

“Mr Wanma is acting GM commercial effective immediately. Charlie is a dedicated energetic professional, who will ensure a smooth transition.

“He will be bringing a number of exciting Air Niugini products to the market, including a refresh of our loyalty program.”

Abbot was sacked because he was trying to make the airline profitable:-

Hike in air fares ‘not approved’ – The National


STATE Enterprises Minister William Duma says the high fares imposed by Air Niugini on passengers were not approved by the airline company board.
He said that the fare hike also never came to his office and wanted all those behind it to be sacked.
“It is not for me to tell the Parliament all the reasons why people have to go (as) they also have rights to defend themselves,” he said.
He said Cabinet had to make the decision recently to let go of the airline’s chief executive officer because the airline should provide fares that were affordable by the people.
“It was one of the reasons that changes had to be made to the two senior executives of Air Niugini,” he said.
He said the board was asked to review the level of fares imposed.
“We expect to introduce a rate that is affordable to our people,” he said.
Duma was responding to North Fly MP James Donald who queried the increase in the cost of airline fares, plus the 5 per cent fees charged by Air Niugini when customers buy tickets using cash.
He said Air Niugini was forced to do that for safety reasons because the chances of getting robbed was high in the country.
“This is a cost all of us have to pay. It reflects the society we live in now,” he said.
He said people were being encouraged not to pay in cash, but to use cards.

Illegal fares approved by PX management | Loop PNG