Pacific Magazine > Magazine > April 17, 2007

Air & Sea

Air & Sea

Air & Sea

By Edited By Samantha Magick

Air Niugini
Air Niugini is about to launch a twice-weekly service to Fiji via Honiara, in what industry observers acknowledge is primarily a politically motivated initiative, coming out of the close political ties between members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, and the “Look North” policies of both countries.

PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare traveled aboard the inaugural flight to Nadi via Honiara on March 23, saying the service was an important landmark that would provide alternate routes of travel to the United States and other overseas destination via Nadi for Papua New Guineans.

Fiji’s interim Commerce Minister Taito Waradi said for his government’s part, the ultimate objective of securing flights between Fiji and PNG was to gain access into the lucrative Asian market.

“This may appear to be a small step between Fiji and PNG but it will open a whole new world in terms of trade and tourism,” Waradi said.

Air Niugini, which has faced increasing competition from start-up Airlines PNG on PNG-Queensland routes in recent months, is in the process of updating its fleet and its internet bookings system—which will include issuing identity cards for local travelers who don’t have other forms of photo identification. The airline also plans to test a Rabaul-Cairns route and may add additional domestic ports to its networks.

But whether its biggest gamble in flying to Fiji is financially viable is yet to be seen.